AI and Checking If Something Is True

AI sometimes makes mistakes — even when it sounds super sure. Always check important facts in a different place too.

Some examples

• AI says a fact — you check 2 other websites.
• AI gives a recipe — you ask a grown-up.
• AI says 'water boils at 50 degrees' — that's wrong!
• You check a name on a trusted site like a museum's.

Try it!

Ask AI a fact about your favorite animal. Then check it on a trusted website.

Why AI sometimes gets things wrong

AI chatbots learn from huge amounts of writing on the internet — but not all of that writing is accurate. And sometimes, AI 'hallucinates,' which means it makes up something that sounds real but isn't. Imagine asking AI 'How many legs does a spider have?' and it says 'six.' That's wrong — spiders have eight legs! But because AI said it in such a confident voice, you might believe it and put it on your science project. That's why fact-checking matters. Think of it like this: if a friend told you something surprising, you'd probably want to check if it's true before telling everyone else. The same goes for AI. Use two or more trusted sources — like a library website, a museum's page, or an encyclopedia — to verify important facts before using them in schoolwork or sharing them with others.

• AI says your state bird is the robin — check on your state government's official website.
• AI gives you a math answer — use a calculator to double-check it.
• AI tells you a historical date — verify in a textbook or encyclopedia.
• If two sources you trust both agree with AI, you're probably good to go.