Library Guides: Generative Artificial Intelligence : Fake Citations

Beware of Fake Citations

When using Generative AI, it's important to know it can produce incorrect citations. Below is an example from Chat GPT.

While the American Journal of Preventative Medicine and The European Journal of Homelessnessare real journals, the articles do not exist!

Disclaimer

It's important to note that the information provided here serves as a general guide. Generative AI might not be allowed in your courses or assignments. If your instructor offers specific guidelines that differ from the information presented here, it's crucial to adhere to your instructor's directives.

How to Spot a Fake Citation

Here is a list of tips to help identify a fake citation:

Conduct a search for the title of the journal using Google Scholar or the Library's Search Everything tool. Put the title in quotation marks when searching so that all words are found together, for example: “Journal of AI”. Sometimes the journal does not exist!
If you have found the journal, locate the article by searching for the volume, issue and/or page numbers noted in the citation. Sometimes the journal may exist but not the article.
If you aren’t sure, contact the Library for help in determining if a citation is fake or not.

Deep Fakes

While Deep Fakes are not exclusive to the world of generative AI, generative AI makes it easier and faster to enable and create Deep Fakes. Learn more in these brief videos.

Foreign Correspondent: American Deep Fake (Video Duration 29 minutes 29 seconds)