Verify AI-Generated Content

AI-generated content, like the cowgirl Evie in our story, can appear authentic and trustworthy. However, it's crucial to verify such information before acting on it. It can be AI's hallucinations or content generated with malicious intent. Here are some tips to help you verify AI-generated content:

• Cross-check information with reliable sources. E.g. double-check with official websites or trusted news outlets.
• If it's a code snippet, test it in a safe environment before using it in production.
• If you use AI in your workflows, ensure that you have human oversight to review and validate the outputs. This is common in written code reviews, but other types of content should also be reviewed.
• AI tools never say "I don't know". If you're looking for something too recent or too niche, be extra cautious.

AI-generated content can also be used for social engineering attacks, spreading misinformation, or creating fake profiles. Always stay vigilant and verify the authenticity of information, especially when it comes from unfamiliar sources.

Exercise

1. Try to ask an AI tool about a recent event or technology. See if it hallucinates. At the time of writing, asking about the React2Shell vulnerability (CVE-2025-55182) should yield inaccurate information, as should questions about Docker Hardened Images.
2. Is there a human in the loop in your current workflows? Or AI writes the code and AI reviews it?