Artificial Intelligence (AI) has wedged itself into daily life so quickly that many young adults barely pause before letting a chatbot help draft a message, explain a concept, or settle a debate. The convenience is obvious; fast answers, smooth writing, and a tone that can feel strangely authoritative.
That’s exactly why it’s easy to forget a simple truth: these systems get things wrong, sometimes spectacularly. And when they do, the mistakes can be more than an annoyance.
These errors, often called AI hallucinations, occur when a system like ChatGPT generates information that sounds polished but has no factual basis. You will usually see two forms. One is a distortion of real information, a subtle twist of meaning that turns an accurate source into something misleading.
The other is the outright fabrication of details, studies, or claims that never existed in the first place. Because the output is delivered with total confidence, many people fail to question it.
The cause is straightforward: chatbots don’t ‘know’ anything. They assemble responses by predicting which words are likely to appear together based on patterns in their training data. That data contains both high-quality information and plenty of nonsense.
When the model hits a gap, or senses ambiguity, it often fills it with convincing fiction. Newer versions do a better job reducing this, but no AI model eliminates the problem.
The risks emerge when people treat these systems as if they are reliable sources. A wrong answer to a low-stakes question isn’t a crisis. But when someone turns to a chatbot for medical explanations, financial guidance, or legal advice, the consequences can be serious.
Taking action based on a fabricated statistic or a fictional case citation can do real damage. Some legal professionals have already found themselves embarrassed in court after relying on AI-generated cases that never existed.
There is also the psychological impact. A sharp, confident answer that contradicts what you know can easily make you second-guess yourself. For someone already struggling with anxiety, intrusive thoughts, or paranoia, a misleading response can heighten confusion or distress. A small but growing number of reports even describe situations where overreliance on AI contributed to a break from reality.
Then there is the subtler erosion of critical thinking. If you lean on AI tools long enough, you may stop questioning their accuracy altogether. Students who use chatbots to generate essays often show weaker engagement and poorer performance than those who think through problems themselves. Offloading too much reasoning to a machine dulls your own analytical habits.
Some people also turn to AI for emotional reassurance. While a chatbot might feel helpful in the moment, it can undermine trust in your own judgement or make human relationships feel less necessary. It’s a fragile substitute for real support.
The point isn’t to avoid AI. These tools can be genuinely useful for brainstorming, simplifying complex explanations, or helping you organise your ideas. But using them responsibly matters.
Double-check claims against reputable sources. Keep an eye on how these interactions affect your mood and clarity. And when the stakes involve your health, money, or well-being, bring a real expert into the discussion.
Most importantly, remember that human guidance is irreplaceable. If your AI use leaves you confused, anxious, or disconnected, that is a clear sign to step back and talk to someone who can give grounded, real-world support. AI can assist, but it can’t care, understand, or connect the way people can.