Final exam: Checking AI: sources, hallucinations and research you can trust

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1. An AI tool gives you five article titles on a topic. Which step should come first?
Cite all five, since the tool listed themAsk a friend whether the titles sound familiarSearch for each one and confirm it existsAsk the tool to confirm that all five are real
2. A real article exists but you cannot find the claimed statistic anywhere in it. What should you conclude?
The article must be out of date, so find a newer oneThe AI is likely right and the article simply left it outYou should add the statistic anyway and cite the articleThe claim is unsupported by that article, so leave it out
3. A site looks very official and cites a grant program you have never heard of. What is the best next step?
Read every page on the site closely to look for warning signsApply right away, since the program looks official, well funded and widely mentionedShare it with colleagues first to see what they thinkOpen a new tab and search who runs the site and what other sources say
4. Which request produces the safest help when you need sources?
“Tell me what kinds of sources cover this, give search terms, and say if unsure.”“Tell me this is proven and cite the best sources for it.”“Give me citations for this that look credible and complete.”“List ten studies on this with their exact titles and authors.”
5. A quote attributed to a well-known author appears in an AI draft. What should you do before using it?
Remove the author’s name but keep the quote as a factFind it in a reliable published source firstChange a few words so it fits your draft betterUse it as written because it sounds like that author
6. You ask a tool to compute a total for a budget and it returns a figure. What is wise?
Trust it without checking because it looked confidentAsk for the figure again and use the larger resultAsk the tool to round the total to a neat figureRecheck with a calculator or spreadsheet
7. Two reliable sources disagree about a detail in an AI search summary. What is the best interpretation?
Always choose the newer source and drop the older oneChoose the source whose wording you personally like betterNote the disagreement and look for the original or most authoritative sourceThe AI summary is broken and should be ignored entirely
8. Which task is the best match for relying on AI without much checking?
Drafting dosage instructions for an elderly relativeStating a tax deadline you plan to rely onWriting a legal notice you plan to send outBrainstorming names for a family game night
9. A colleague proudly says, “The AI cited a link, so it must be right.” What is the best response?
Explain the link must be opened, since a page can exist without backing the claimAgree, since an AI that adds a link has already verified the claimTell them the link proves the page exists, which is enough to trust itSay links from AI tools are always invented and never worth opening
10. You notice that an AI answer about a new rule is confident but you cannot find the rule on any official page. What should you do?
Rewrite it to sound less certain, then share it with your teamTreat it as unverified until an official source confirms itAsk the AI to repeat it, and share it if it says the sameShare it with a note saying you are fairly sure it is right

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