It is as essential to evaluate GenAI outputs as it is to evaluate social media posts or other content. You MUST critically assess the quality of any Generative AI (GenAI) output and AI performance and compare it to human performance. Remember, GenAI tools lack real-world understanding; AI models don't truly "understand" information in the way humans do, which can lead to logical errors or nonsensical statements.
It is important to develop the information skills and resource awareness to verify or cross-check any GenAI output. While hallucinations and bias are considerable problems in Generative Artificial Intelligence, fact checking and using lateral reading or the SIFT method can mitigate believing and passing on misinformation.
Lateral reading is the practice of leaving a website to verify its claims and check its credibility by consulting other sources, rather than staying on the original site to evaluate it.
The SIFT evaluation method is an evaluation strategy developed by digital literacy expert Mike Caulfield to help determine the credibility and reliability of online content. It is ideal because it encourages critical thinking and systematic evaluation of content generated by AI. By prompting users to pause, investigate sources, seek alternative coverage, and trace claims to their origins, it provides a structured approach to assessing the credibility and accuracy of information.
