Facts delivered by AI are always fluent, but could be fabricated and require thorough verification.
Even with rapid development, language models struggle to understand satire, nuance, and rapidly changing events.
Under such circumstances, human oversight and judgement is crucial in legal, medical, and financial contexts.
AI tools like ChatGPT have moved from being something new and fascinating to being a normal part of everyday life in just a few years. Artificial intelligence can draft emails, summarize research papers, generate code, and simulate interviews. Many users find the experience smooth, intelligent, and dependable.
However, fluency can be deceptive. Behind the polished sentences are structural weaknesses that matter but go unnoticed, especially when accuracy and accountability are at stake. Real-world incidents over the past few years are proof of areas where ChatGPT and other AI systems have consistently failed and found wanting.
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ChatGPT is programmed to sound confident even when it is wrong. This is a risky and powerful combination.
In 2023, two US lawyers submitted a legal brief containing case citations generated by ChatGPT. It was soon revealed that several of them did not exist. The judge later sanctioned the lawyers after it was clear that the AI fabricated the references.
The episode led to international headlines and served as a wake-up call for professionals experimenting with AI-generated material.
Researchers have also demonstrated that large language models can invent statistics, use quotations out of context, or cite studies that never occurred. The system does not independently verify each fact before delivering it. It only detects and predicts plausible language patterns.
This distinction is critical in the fields of journalism, law, academia, and finance, where misinformation could cause huge negative impacts.
Language is shaped by tone, intent, and cultural background. AI systems are found to struggle when they need to decode meaning that depends on context. Tests involving satirical outlets such as The Onion have shown that artificial intelligence ends up summarizing parody articles as actual factual reporting. The humour and exaggeration that signal satire to human readers do not always translate clearly to pattern-based systems.
This limitation becomes visible during fast-moving developments. After the 2024 US election, when Donald Trump returned to office in January 2025, some AI tools, including ChatGPT, continued referring to him as the former president for a period of time.
Rather than being an issue of political bias, this was due to outdated training data. Since many models were trained before the new political reality showed up in their datasets.
The same challenge presents itself in other areas like election results, cabinet reshuffles, and market movements. AI models do not automatically refresh themselves the moment things change in the real world.
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Artificial intelligence can suggest ideas and give answers, but it cannot deal with the results when something goes wrong with execution.
In 2023, some schools, including the New York City Department of Education, blocked ChatGPT for a while because they were worried students might use it to cheat. In the medical field or legal matters, depending only on AI can be dangerous. It cannot physically check a patient, fully understand someone’s personal background, or take responsibility for the advice it gives.
• Verify important facts using primary and reliable sources
• Cross-check time-sensitive information with current news updates
• Avoid relying solely on AI for medical, legal, or financial decisions
• Disclose AI assistance in academic and professional work where required
• Apply human judgment before acting on AI-generated advice
ChatGPT and other AI tools are powerful assistants, but they are not perfect or accurate. Their fluency can cover up the gaps in facts, misunderstandings in context, and outdated information.
Using them ritically and responsibly can enhance productivity. But blind use could lead to misinformation and bad decisions. The ultimate safeguard remains human verification, accountability, and informed judgment.
1. Why does ChatGPT sometimes generate false information confidently?
Large language models predict patterns in text, not verified facts, so fabricated but plausible details may appear.
2. Can AI tools automatically update themselves with new events
Most models rely on training data and do not instantly reflect elections, leadership shifts, or breaking news.
3. Is it safe to use AI for academic or professional writing?
AI can assist drafting, but facts must be checked, and disclosure rules followed where required.
4. Why do AI systems struggle with satire and parody content?
Satire depends on cultural cues and exaggeration, which pattern-based systems may misinterpret as factual.
5. Should AI be used for medical or legal decisions?
AI can support research, but final decisions must involve qualified professionals and human accountability.