- ChatGPT generates responses based on patterns from its training data rather than live research, which means it can sometimes produce incorrect or outdated information, a phenomenon known as hallucination.
- Its overall accuracy is high—for example, GPT-4o scores about 88.7% on benchmarks like the MMLU—but performance varies depending on question complexity, rarity of topics, and recency of information.
- While ChatGPT is powerful, its outputs may still reflect biases from its training data, so critical evaluation and verification from reliable sources remain essential.
Sure, you can use ChatGPT for nearly anything — but how accurate is its information?
ChatGPT now has hundreds of millions of users. It produces content, helps with brainstorming, writes code, and acts as a general tutor.
But how much should you trust the AI chatbot's responses?
How does ChatGPT generate responses?
To better understand the quality of the information ChatGPT throws at you, let's start by understanding how the AI chatbot selects its information.
ChatGPT is a large language model (LLM), designed to mimic human language.
When it generates a response, it isn't conducting research or checking webpages. It's generating a series of words based on its training data. This means that sometimes, an LLM will hallucinate (i.e. perceive non-existent patterns and produce incorrect information).
How accurate is ChatGPT?
ChatGPT-4o is accurate 88.7% of the time, according to the Massive Multi-task Language Understanding (MMLU).
The MMLU test quantifies large language model intelligence, pitting the top AI models against each other.
However, it's difficult to pin down an accurate measure of accuracy.
The success rate will always vary depending on the method of testing used. These tests are often more helpful as a tool to compare LLMs to each other than a tool to judge whether ChatGPT is accurate in individual conversations.
When is ChatGPT most likely to give false information?
ChatGPT will rarely — if ever — hallucinate on a simple question. Ask it the capital of Canada; you have little to worry about.
ChatGPT is less likely to source correct information if it's rare or recent.
If it has less training data on a subject, the less likely ChatGPT is to be accurate. Since the model doesn't use the most up-to-date information in the internet, that means recent information isn't yet part of its training data.
How can I improve the accuracy of ChatGPT?
Remember that using ChatGPT isn't a one-sided interaction. There are plenty of steps you can take to improve response accuracy.
Here are 4 ways to get the best answers from ChatGPT:
1) Give it more context
We all get confused sometimes, and artificial intelligence is no exception. If you're asking for the best cities for public transportation, try being more specific: Which city has the biggest subway system? Which city has the most public transport ridership? Which city spends the most money on public transit?
If you have an ongoing conversation with ChatGPT, it will remember the context and may answer more accurately.
2) Ask for sources with clickable links
A game-changer for sourcing accurate information, the latest models of ChatGPT will provide links to sources should you request them.
3) Use the latest models
Every new GPT model brings with it more reliability. The OpenAI o1 model uses chain-of-thought reasoning, which instructs the model to stop and reason through each step of its response before starting to generate text.
4) Ask it in English
ChatGPT works in over 80 languages. But because of the wide variety of English content on the internet, ChatGPT is most accurate when conversing in English. If you can interact with the AI chatbot in English, it's your best bet for getting higher quality output.
Is ChatGPT biased?
ChatGPT's output is influenced by its training data, which can introduce biases or inaccuracies, and the fine-tuning process, which involves human reviewers. It's always important to approach the model's responses critically and verify information from reliable sources when needed.
Does ChatGPT give the same answer to everyone?
Since ChatGPT models are constantly improving, you might not always get the same answer over time.
If two people both use ChatGPT at the same time with the same prompt, you'll likely get similar answers.
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FAQs
Can ChatGPT access real-time information from the internet?
Not by default. ChatGPT generates answers based on patterns in its training data, which means it doesn't browse the web in real-time unless you’re using a version with browsing enabled (like ChatGPT Plus with web access).
What is the difference between training data and real-time data in ChatGPT?
Training data is the information ChatGPT learned from up to a certain cutoff date, while real-time data refers to current, constantly updating info (like news or stock prices) that the base model doesn't access unless it’s connected to live tools.
How is ChatGPT different from traditional search engines like Google?
ChatGPT generates answers directly in a conversation, while Google shows you links to webpages.
What does it mean when people say ChatGPT “hallucinates”?
It means the AI makes stuff up. It might give you answers that sound right but are actually incorrect or completely fabricated, especially on niche or unclear topics.
How can I verify the information ChatGPT provides?
The best way is to cross-check it with reliable sources like official websites, news outlets, or academic references. If you’re unsure, you can always ask ChatGPT to provide links or cite its sources.
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