The Ghost in the Machine: Hallucinations

GBA Business Technology Committee

In the ever-evolving landscape of the geoprofessional industry, artificial intelligence (AI) continues to drive innovation, efficiency, and curiosity. GBA’s Business Technology Committee is producing a six-part series to educate GBA members on the implications of AI on the geoprofessions. The articles, written by Enrique Farfan, Ph.D., P.E. ENV SP (HDR), explore how this technology works and its potential uses.

The third article in the series focuses on AI hallucinations – referring to instances in which large language models generate content that seems real but consists of false statements or those that are outside the context of the text. AI hallucinations are perceived as a byproduct of AI’s creativity. AI is expected to be free to generate content independently and with human-like ability while also maintaining accuracy and precision.

The article includes examples of real prompts that resulted in AI hallucinations in relation to inquiries of interest to the geoprofessional industry.

As AI continues to evolve, its integration into specialized fields like the geoprofessions not only enhances current methodologies but also opens avenues for unprecedented solutions, making the mastery of AI communication an indispensable skill for the future.

READ “THE GHOST IN THE MACHINE” NOW

See the previous articles in the series:
AI Unveiled: The Wizardry Behind Chatbots and Intelligent Systems
How Large Language Models Work: In a Nutshell