Although AI can provide accurate and helpful responses, there are still some common errors that can occur. Here are some examples of common errors and ways to correct them:

  1. Hallucinations: The AI gives information that sounds plausible but is false or unsupported.
  2. Outdated information: The AI may not know about recent changes unless it has browsing or updated data.
  3. Missing nuance: The answer oversimplifies a complex issue.
  4. Misunderstanding the context: AI might not be able to understand the context of a question, resulting in an irrelevant or inaccurate response. To correct this, try to provide more context or rephrase the question.
  5. Bias in language and data: AI can reflect the bias in the data and language used to train it. To correct this, ensure that the data and language used to train the AI is diverse and representative, and avoid using biased language in prompts.
  6. False confidence: The AI presents uncertainty as fact.
  7. Inaccurate information: AI can provide inaccurate information, especially if it has been trained on incomplete or incorrect data. To correct this, use fact-checking tools to verify the information provided by the AI.
  8. Weak sources: The AI cites poor, irrelevant or invented sources.
  9. Format failure: The answer does not follow the requested structure.
  10. Uncertainty in responses: AI might not always provide a clear answer and might instead provide a range of possible answers or indicate uncertainty. To correct this, consider rephrasing the question or providing more context to help the AI provide a more accurate response.
  11. Technical limitations: AI might have technical limitations, such as being unable to process certain types of information or handle complex questions. To correct this, ensure that the question or prompt is within the technical capabilities of the AI and consider using a different AI system if necessary.

How to correct errors

  • Rephrase the prompt.
  • Add missing context.
  • Ask the AI to state assumptions.
  • Request sources and dates.
  • Ask for uncertainty to be labelled.
  • Compare with reliable references.
  • Use a specialist or expert for high-risk topics.