Hallucination
A hallucination is when an AI states something false or made up as if it were true — a fake quote, a non-existent court case, a wrong date. It happens because models generate plausible text, not checked facts.
In one line, for a 12-year-old
A hallucination is when the AI makes something up and says it like it's true.
An example
Lawyers in several countries, including Canada, have been sanctioned for filing court documents that cited cases an AI invented.
Why it matters to people
Never rely on an AI answer alone for health, legal, financial or safety decisions. Ask for sources, open them, and check with a qualified person.