What to do.
Each point is followed by the words it rests on and where they come from.
- 1
Treat the answer as a first draft, not the final word.
“Use ChatGPT as a first draft, not a final source. Please check important information.”
OpenAI Help Center, 'Does ChatGPT tell the truth?' · Aug 2026 · the company's own advice · Page shows 'Updated: 2 months ago' when read on 2026-10-19
- 2
Expect some answers to be wrong, however sure they sound.
“they can get things wrong and 'hallucinate' incorrect facts”
UK NCSC blog, 'ChatGPT and large language models: what's the risk?' · Mar 14, 2023 · Old (2023); the advice on what to type in still stands
- 3
Check every quote, number and reference yourself.
“Always verify quotes, data, technical information or references to external documents.”
OpenAI Help Center, 'Does ChatGPT tell the truth?' · Aug 2026 · the company's own advice · Page shows 'Updated: 2 months ago' when read on 2026-10-19
- 4
Open the cited links and read the original, rather than trusting the summary.
“Use available tools like search or deep research and check sources when accuracy matters by visiting links directly.”
OpenAI Help Center, 'Does ChatGPT tell the truth?' · Aug 2026 · the company's own advice · Page shows 'Updated: 2 months ago' when read on 2026-10-19
- 5
For anything important, confirm it with a reliable source that isn't the chatbot.
“That's why we encourage users to approach ChatGPT critically and verify important information from reliable sources.”
OpenAI Help Center, 'Does ChatGPT tell the truth?' · Aug 2026 · the company's own advice · Page shows 'Updated: 2 months ago' when read on 2026-10-19
- 6
Specialist tools still need checking.
“the Lexis+ AI and Ask Practical Law AI systems produced incorrect information more than 17% of the time”
Stanford HAI, 'AI on Trial: Legal Models Hallucinate in 1 out of 6 (or More) Benchmarking Queries' · May 23, 2024 · Old (2024); tested the legal tools as they were then
- 7
If it goes in a court filing, school work or a report, check each citation exists. Courts keep catching invented ones.
“While seeking to be exhaustive (2202 cases identified so far)”
Damien Charlotin, AI Hallucination Cases database · Oct 19, 2026
Keep going.
What not to tell a chatbot
Your chats are seen by the company that runs the chatbot. They can be used for training unless you turn that off, and they can outlive the company: states asked for protections for private chats in Character.AI's bankruptcy.
ScamsHow to spot an AI voice-clone call
Scammers can clone a loved one's voice from a short clip. The FBI counted over $5 million lost to 'loved one in distress' scams in 2025. A cloned voice can sound right, so check the story another way.
FamilyHow to protect kids and teens using AI chatbots
Children use chatbots for homework and for company. Common Sense Media says no social AI companions for anyone under 18. Several US states are now suing OpenAI over harm to children; those claims are allegations, not findings.