Sometimes AI Makes Up Code That Doesn't Actually Work

AI is so confident that it sometimes invents code that LOOKS right but won't run. It might call a function that doesn't exist or use a tool the wrong way.

Some examples

• AI says 'use the magicSort() function' — but no such function exists.
• Code looks perfect but throws an error the second you run it.
• AI might mix up two different programming languages.
• Always run the code to see if it actually works.

Try it!

Ask AI for a tiny program. Try to run it. If it errors, ask AI to fix it. Try again.

Practice this safely

Try this with a low-stakes example and a trusted adult nearby. The goal is to notice how AI talks about hallucination, not to let it make the decision for you.

1. 1Ask AI to explain hallucination in plain language, then underline anything that sounds uncertain or too broad.
2. 2Give it one detail from "Sometimes AI Makes Up Code That Doesn't Actually Work" and ask for two possible next steps plus one reason each step might be wrong.
3. 3Check testing against a trusted source, teacher, adult, expert, or original document before you use it.