Hallucinations occur because AI models are trained on a relatively limited data set that could potentially be incorrect or biased. However, there are a few things you can do to reduce the chances of this happening.

1. Use Simple, Direct Language

When you use straightforward prompts, it lowers the likelihood of the AI model misinterpreting your input. So, make sure your prompts are clear, direct, and easy to understand.

Writing a complicated prompt with a number of unnecessary details, resulted in ChatGPT misinterpreting the question and sharing suggestions for the best way to go about purchasing winter wear.

In contrast, using a simpler prompt that was direct resulted in a more accurate and helpful response.

It’s best to reread your prompt to ensure it is focused on the objective you want. If you find that your input includes any unnecessary details or convoluted sentences, correct them to get an accurate answer and keep the AI tool from hallucinating.

2. Incorporate Context Into Your Prompts

Giving the AI tool some context in your prompt can help it generate a more accurate response. Context helps reduce the potential possibilities and encourages the AI platform to consider a more specific approach when answering your prompt.

For instance, instead of asking an AI chatbot to share tips on how to invest money, you could key in the following prompt, which includes sufficient context:

“I am a risk-averse investor looking to build capital over the next few decades for a long-term financial goal. Considering my risk tolerance and investment objective, can you share a few asset classes that I can consider investing in?”

You could make this prompt more specific by adding details like your age, income, and desired rate of capital growth over the next few years. This level of specificity will help the AI model understand your unique situation and preferences, and provide a response that’s more aligned with your expectations.

3. Refine Your Prompts

If you’ve noticed that the AI tool you’re using is generating incorrect or biased responses, try changing up your prompts. By refining your prompts and providing clearer instructions, you’re more likely to get a relevant response.

For example, instead of asking for weight loss suggestions that could result in vague and, sometimes, incorrect responses, you could change your prompt to “Give me a few evidence-based weight-loss strategies.” This targeted approach could help you obtain valuable insights from the AI chatbot.

If you’ve consistently had an AI chatbot generate inaccurate or problematic responses, consider sharing your feedback with the developers. Over time, feedback like yours can help developers improve the underlying model.

4. Change the Temperature

A lower temperature (the term for how a chatbot acts) helps generate a more accurate result, while one that’s higher could increase the randomness of the response. If you’re looking for fact-based responses, make sure to use the lowest temperature setting, for a less creative and more analytical answer.

However, if you are, say, brainstorming ideas or looking for humorous responses, increasing the temperature could work in your favor. Keep in mind, though, that increasing the temperature could cause the AI model to generate hallucinatory responses.

In the example below, you’ll notice that ChatGPT’s response to a straightforward prompt was pretty “creative” at a temperature of three.

Use the Best AI Chatbot for Better Results

Even the best AI models occasionally spit out facts that are just plain wrong. Given this, it’s important that you verify every detail and statistic that is generated by a chatbot before accepting it as true.

It’s also a good idea to test different AI models and choose one that is capable of generating the most accurate responses, especially if you’re using these tools for critical tasks or decision-making purposes.