artificial intelligence

making stuff up

false advertising

AI can get carried away

@JudyEv (369956)

Rockingham, Australia

January 21, 2026 8:10pm CST

I’ve put up a few comments lately sticking up for AI but I might have to pull my head in a bit. We use ChatGPT quite a bit and have found it very useful. It can save us reading through reams of text. I know you need to check out its finding but overall we’ve enjoyed using it and been thankful for its help with all sorts of issues. However, a news release today tells of a travel booking company that used AI, through a third-party, to write about a particular place in Tasmania. Unfortunately, AI made up some stuff about hot springs and other attractions that simply aren’t there. The hotel-owner at Weldborough has had numerous phone calls asking about the hot springs but there simply aren’t any. Here’s the link if you want to have a read. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01-22/ai-images-of-tasmania-on-tour-website/106253448 In the meantime, we’ll keep using Chat and keep checking that it’s not MSUing (Making Stuff Up). The photo was taken in Innsbruck, Austria.

22 people like this

17 responses

@noni1959 (12244)

• United States

22 Jan

I just went to the site and wow! They say they use the third party to keep up and win customers, but this is going to tank them if they don't get a handle on it. I like AI for some things, but I have to really pay attention to what it's telling me.

5 people like this

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@noni1959 (12244)

• United States

23 Jan

@JudyEv If I am talking to a chat bot or AI when looking up travel info, I back out. I want a live person all the way.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (369956)

• Rockingham, Australia

22 Jan

It won't do their reputation any good at all.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (369956)

• Rockingham, Australia

23 Jan

@noni1959 That's much to be preferred - if you can find one! A real person that is.

2 people like this

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@DaddyEvil (166269)

• United States

22 Jan

Yes, the technical people working with the different AIs around the world say the systems are "hallucinating" when they make things up.

4 people like this

@JudyEv (369956)

• Rockingham, Australia

22 Jan

I hadn't come across that term before.

4 people like this

@Aquitaine24 (11946)

• San Jose, California

22 Jan

@JudyEv Of corse, it’s because they look like hallucinations.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (369956)

• Rockingham, Australia

23 Jan

@Aquitaine24 @DaddyEvil Makes sense.

1 person likes this

changjiangzhibin89

@changjiangzhibin89 (17126)

• China

22 Jan

Needless to say,AI leaves much to be desired.I frequently use Deepseek,it is really helpful.

3 people like this

@Aquitaine24 (11946)

• San Jose, California

22 Jan

They are monitoring the kinks for sure.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (369956)

• Rockingham, Australia

23 Jan

There are a number of different platforms now that you can use. I'm glad you find Deepseek helpful.

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (491423)

• Italy

22 Jan

I immediately noticed that the photo was about the Alps.

AI is good, but it's often misleading. I enjoyed looking at the link. AI is good, but it's better to check twice before trusting what those robots suggest.

3 people like this

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@LadyDuck (491423)

• Italy

23 Jan

@JudyEv - Elon Musk said that next year houses will start to have robots as helpers. Not sure that I want one.

We have been several times to Innsbruck.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (369956)

• Rockingham, Australia

23 Jan

@LadyDuck I guess if your robot started to misbehave you could always pull its plug out!

2 people like this

@JudyEv (369956)

• Rockingham, Australia

23 Jan

AI can make some quite big mistakes sometimes. It's always best to check. That's clever to recognise the photo.

2 people like this

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Lenore Plassman

@sallypup (67677)

• Centralia, Washington

22 Jan

I can't stand the chirpy fake AI voice. Drives me up the wall with its plastic emptiness.

2 people like this

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@Aquitaine24 (11946)

• San Jose, California

22 Jan

I wonder if parrots like it.

2 people like this

Lenore Plassman

@sallypup (67677)

• Centralia, Washington

22 Jan

@JudyEv I do use Messenger sometimes. Otherwise I don't text.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (369956)

• Rockingham, Australia

22 Jan

We only 'talk' in text thankfully.

2 people like this

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@Ineeddentures (14642)

•

22 Jan

Ai is awesome. It makes stuff up all the time. And something else If it says something and you tell AI it is wrong It will agree with you. At least the AI model on DuckDuckGo does

2 people like this

@JudyEv (369956)

• Rockingham, Australia

22 Jan

We find it very useful especially for background information on various medical conditions we're facing. So quick and you don't have to read reams and reams of information. And we check it if it seems 'off'.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (369956)

• Rockingham, Australia

23 Jan

@Ineeddentures Vince has gained a huge amount of background information about his heart valve replacement and lung operation. It just fills in the gaps sometimes when doctors are too busy or don't think to tell you certain things. It has given him peace of mind several times.

1 person likes this

@Ineeddentures (14642)

•

22 Jan

@JudyEv Same here. I use AI every time I have a wee pain in my chest or my O2 saturations are down a bit. It is quick right enough and saves a visit to the doctor. Well, it actually saves the half an hour wait on the phone trying to get through to book an appointment

1 person likes this

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@snowy22315 (201788)

• United States

22 Jan

It happens so often there is a term for it. They call it hallucinations..Maybe AI needs to take an anti psychotic

2 people like this

@JudyEv (369956)

• Rockingham, Australia

22 Jan

I didn't know about the term for it. I wonder what will happen in the future with AI. While it has so much potential, it's certainly not perfect yet.

1 person likes this

@celticeagle (184678)

• Boise, Idaho

22 Jan

How weird. I would be curious as to what exactly the AI program was asked to do. That could prove scary in a lot of other ways. This could completely ruin their business.

1 person likes this

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@celticeagle (184678)

• Boise, Idaho

23 Jan

@JudyEv .........They need to do their due diligence.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (369956)

• Rockingham, Australia

23 Jan

It could indeed. If anyone is using it, they need to check what it's coming up with.

1 person likes this

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@Aquitaine24 (11946)

• San Jose, California

22 Jan

That wouldn’t be ideal for a ski resort.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (369956)

• Rockingham, Australia

23 Jan

The photo isn't from that area but you're quite right.

@wolfgirl569 (128398)

• Marion, Ohio

22 Jan

It's good to check anything before using it

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (369956)

• Rockingham, Australia

23 Jan

For sure. It's not always right.

1 person likes this

@RasmaSandra (93313)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

22 Jan

I've been lucky with AI lately I do a lot of research and it has provided lots of quick info I can use,

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (369956)

• Rockingham, Australia

23 Jan

It can save a lot of trawling through lots of information.

1 person likes this

Anindita Sengupta

@aninditasen (17971)

• Raurkela, India

22 Jan

I have used AI. It's working well for me in searching facts about science.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (369956)

• Rockingham, Australia

23 Jan

I find it useful too. It provides basic information very quickly.

1 person likes this

Anindita Sengupta

@aninditasen (17971)

• Raurkela, India

8h

@JudyEv Till now I have got correct answers in science.

• United States

22 Jan

I use Chatgpt too mainly for making images and researching. As much as I like AI it is a computer. So, I know it will make mistakes.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (369956)

• Rockingham, Australia

22 Jan

True, and that's what you have to bear in mind.

1 person likes this

@pitsipeahie (5447)

•

22 Jan

I use ChatGPT regularly for work and for almost anything else. It’s very useful and helpful for me! It makes many of my tasks easier and can teach me almost anything I ask. I feel like I have an ever ready assistant ready anytime I need something.

But of course, like anything, it’s not perfect and not 100% accurate all the time and I have experienced that. So still, I double-check and use my own judgment.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (369956)

• Rockingham, Australia

22 Jan

You have had a siimilar experience to us. Our son uses it for help with spreadsheets and all sorts of administrative tasks. But you do need to remember it's not perfect.

2 people like this

@May2k8 (19585)

• Indonesia

22 Jan

AI is sometimes confusing and needs further discovery, every time I do a search I always get redirected to AI.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (369956)

• Rockingham, Australia

23 Jan

I haven't had that happen but I go to AI intentionally.

1 person likes this

@jstory07 (147203)

• Roseburg, Oregon

22 Jan

I guess it just goes to show you that even AI can make up things.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (369956)

• Rockingham, Australia

23 Jan

Yes, that's true. It can't really be trusted. You need to check on it all the time.

1 person likes this

@LindaOHio (211678)

• United States

22 Jan

I knew that AI was not going to be fault-free.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (369956)

• Rockingham, Australia

23 Jan

There are always teething problems with any new technology.

1 person likes this