What should I do if an AI tool gives me incorrect or made-up information?

When an AI tool gives you incorrect or fabricated information — often called a hallucination — you should verify the claim against a primary source, correct it before publishing, and consider whether the tool is reliable enough for that specific task. Hallucinations happen because AI models predict likely word patterns, not because they're intentionally lying, but the result is the same: confident-sounding nonsense. For example, someone asked an AI assistant for the founding date of a well-known software company. The AI confidently answered "1997" with a full explanation. The actual founding year was 2004. The AI invented a plausible-sounding history because that's what its training data suggested was likely. A useful habit: treat AI output like a smart intern's first draft. It might be brilliant, but you wouldn't publish it without checking. For facts, dates, statistics, quotes, or legal claims, always cross-check with the original source — the company's website, a government database, or a reputable news outlet. One tip that saves time: ask the AI to cite its sources for any factual claim. If it can't provide a verifiable link or reference, that's a red flag. Some tools now include source citations automatically, which helps, but even those need spot-checking. If you're using AI for content creation, a zero-prompt AI content generator can reduce errors by pulling from structured data rather than free-form generation, though no tool is perfect. **Related**: Why do AI chatbots make up facts? | How can I fact-check AI content quickly?