ESM Welcomes College MatchPoint to the Team! Learn More
AI can be a powerful study helper, but it also makes mistakes that can mislead students. This article teaches five practical techniques to catch AI errors so learners can use technology safely, accurately, and effectively.
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: AI doesn’t always know what it is talking about. Sometimes it nails the answer. Other times, AI lies: it makes things up, mixes details, or delivers nonsense with total confidence. By checking facts, comparing answers, and asking AI to show its reasoning, you can quickly spot when AI is wrong.
AI tools have rapidly become a study staple rather than a novelty. Pew Research reported that in 2025, 26 percent of U.S. teens ages 13–17 used ChatGPT for school assignments, up from just 13 percent in 2023. Another survey by ScholarshipOwl found that 35 percent of Gen Z high schoolers used AI to solve homework problems, while 66 percent used it for study support.
In other words, most students are experimenting with AI—but not all are using it well. The difference between learning smarter and being misled often comes down to whether you can catch AI wrong answers.
People often describe wrong answers as “AI lying,” but what’s really happening is that the model fills in gaps, guesses patterns, or generates confident but incorrect information—known as AI hallucinations. Understanding why AI gets things wrong helps you recognize the signs faster.
AI can be wrong for several reasons:
AI is wrong more often than people realize. One 2024 study reported that models can hallucinate upwards of 28% of responses. This is why you should never trust AI answers without a little bit of due diligence and common sense checking—especially for homework.
AI does not know your textbook or your teacher’s expectations.
Strategy: Whenever AI gives you a fact, date, or definition, verify it with another reliable source such as your notes, a textbook, or a .edu site.
Example: If AI says the Battle of Gettysburg happened in 1862, flip open your history book or search a trusted site. You will see it was 1863, and you will know not to rely on the AI answer.
An answer without steps is harder to trust.
Strategy: When AI gives you a solution, ask it to explain step by step or to show the reasoning.
Example: If AI says the solution to 2x + 5 = 15 is x = 4, do not stop there. Ask it to walk through each step. If the math does not add up, you will spot the mistake before you memorize the wrong process.
AI often presents wrong answers as if there is no room for doubt.
Strategy: Pay attention to words like “always” or “never.” Follow up by asking if there are exceptions or limits.
Example: If AI says Shakespeare always wrote in iambic pentameter, you can push back and ask about exceptions. It will then admit that not every line follows the pattern, which helps you get a more accurate understanding.
AI does not always stay consistent.
Strategy: Try asking the same question in two or three different ways. If the answers are different, you know you need to investigate further.
Example: If you ask “What year did Pluto stop being a planet?” and AI says 2007, then later says 2006, you know to check a reliable source. A quick search confirms the correct year is 2006.
You already have knowledge that can guide you.
Strategy: If an answer feels off, stop and check it. Do not let AI talk you into something that does not match what you know.
Example: If you ask about a novel you have read and AI describes a theme that you never saw in the book, listen to your instinct. Go back to your notes and confirm what the real themes are.
AI can sound smart even when it is wrong. By cross-checking with real sources, asking for step-by-step reasoning, looking out for overconfidence, comparing multiple answers, and trusting your gut, you turn AI into a tool for learning instead of a source of confusion and AI lies.
The goal is not to avoid AI, but to use it wisely. When you know how to question its answers, you keep your studying accurate and your confidence strong.
