PromptSharp › Glossary › AI Hallucination
What is AI Hallucination?
A hallucination is when an AI states something false or fabricated — a fake citation, statistic, or quote — with total confidence.
An AI hallucination is a confident, plausible-sounding output that is simply wrong: an invented source, a misremembered figure, a quote nobody said, or an API that doesn't exist. It happens because the model predicts likely text, not verified truth — fluent and factual are not the same thing.
You reduce hallucinations by grounding the model in data you provide (paste the source, then ask it to answer only from that), asking it to cite or flag uncertainty, and lowering temperature. You never eliminate them, so any factual claim — especially names, numbers, citations, and legal or medical statements — must be verified against a trusted source.
Frequently asked
Why does AI make up facts?
Because it generates the most probable next words based on patterns, not a database of verified truth. When it lacks the real answer, it produces a fluent, plausible guess. Fluency is not accuracy.
How do I stop AI hallucinations?
Ground it: paste the source material and instruct it to answer only from what you provided. Ask it to cite sources or say 'I don't know,' lower the temperature, and always verify names, numbers, and citations yourself.
Related terms
Put this into practice
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