Generative AI, especially large language models that generate text by statistically predicting strings of words, can contain false information that is stated to be fact. The New York Times reported on one study by the tech start-up Vectara that found that "chatbots invent information at least 3 percent of the time — and as high as 27 percent."
When asked to describe Davidson College and it's most famous alumni, the output included at least 6 factual inaccuracies and one completely invented person. See the full conversation for the prompts.
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