Outputs of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) are not always accurate. The term AI hallucinations is used to describe mistakes in an output.
The following techniques can help you navigate AI outputs and identify potential problems.
Lateral reading is a way of fact-checking an online information source (including GenAI) by consulting other sources.
Rather than scrolling vertically up and down through an GenAI chat window, you can navigate away laterally from an GenAI source by opening new tabs and searching for other online sources to confirm its claims.
You can approach fact checking an GenAI response by following these steps (University of Maryland Libraries, 2024):
Break down and list all the specific claims made by the GenAI.
Open new tabs and begin searching for other information sources that confirms or conflicts with the claims made by the GenAI. Some good sources to consult include Humber's Library Search, the University of Guelph's Library Search (Omni), Google Search, Google Scholar, or Wikipedia. Document your findings.
Refer back to the GenAI response. Based on the new information you have found, ask yourself: does the AI response make any false assumptions? Does the AI offer only one of many possible perspectives?
Draw conclusions based on your findings. If your instructor has approved the use of GenAI for an assignment, it might be a good idea to share how you arrived at your conclusion. If your instructor has not mentioned using GenAI, speak with them about it before using it for an assignment.
Watch this short video on lateral reading to learn more.
The 4-S System of Reading is a set of strategies for research and analysis and can be broken up into four stages: search, skim, select, and study.
These strategies can help you:
Assess the structure and quality of the findings and arguments presented in a source
Verify the credibility of the author
Skim sources for relevant information
Organize and track your sources
Create annotations
Paired with lateral reading, the 4-S System of Reading is a powerful method to critically evaluate academic and non-academic sources, including GenAI. For more information on the 4-S System of Reading, watch the Library’s tutorial series on Reading and Note-Taking.
Proper citation is a key component of academic integrity, as it is an opportunity for you to share, acknowledge, and give credit for any ideas, words, or images you use in your work that you did not create yourself.
Practicing proper citation is expected when completing all assignments at Humber and the University of Guelph-Humber. By applying proper citation, you can avoid misappropriating another’s work. Misappropriating another's work is when someone other than the author(s) or creator(s) takes credit for work that isn't their's, which goes against academic integrity. Your instructor may have specific requirements on how to cite.
Students can find more information on practicing proper citation, including how to cite GenAI outputs, by accessing the following resources:
For Humber students, visit the Academic Integrity and Citation Awareness Module
For University of Guelph-Humber students, visit the Academic Integrity Module