An AI hallucination is an output that presents invented, incorrect, or unsupported information as if it were valid. It can include figures, quotes, links, or product features. A convincing tone and fluent wording are not enough to verify a claim.
How does an AI hallucination happen?
The model generates responses based on patterns and available context. If evidence is missing or it misinterprets a source, it can fill in the text with plausible content. Review must verify each relevant fact at its source.
How does it apply in marketing?
A draft attributes a certification to a product that does not have it. The editor checks the official listing, removes the claim, and asks the system to flag any data not provided as unknown.
| Concept | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Factual error | A verifiable claim is incorrect. |
| Unsupported content | The response asserts something that the evidence provided does not demonstrate. |
Frequently asked questions about AI hallucination
Can a response with sources hallucinate?
Yes. Verify that the source exists and that it supports exactly the claim, including its conditions.
How do you detect an invented citation?
Find the original publication and verify author, title, date, and passage. An apparent link does not confirm authenticity.
Does RAG eliminate hallucinations?
No. It improves access to sources, but retrieval and generation also require evaluation.
Should you ask for explicit uncertainty?
Yes. It allows the system to indicate insufficient information and avoids demanding a conclusive answer when no evidence exists.
What do you review before publishing?
Names, figures, references, features, promises, and conditions. Prioritize claims with consequences for the reader.
AI Hallucination: limits you should know
Asking it not to invent is useful, but insufficient. Links can also be nonexistent or fail to support the sentence. Define controls proportional to the impact of the content.
To broaden the context, compare this concept with Grounding, RAG and Human in the loop.
Reference source: docs.cloud.google.com. AMD Digital Agency Glossary.
