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An illustration of a chat bot
Podcast, 28 mins

Artificial Unintelligence - Why AI lies with a straight face

Ever caught a chatbot lying with confidence? This episode of Thats Science explains why AI gets things wrong and why some errors stay.

Part of That's Science!, Artificial Intelligence
24 Feb 2026 09:00

Have you ever been having a perfectly normal chat with your favorite AI large language model, only to realise it's been confidently lying to your face?

In this episode of That’s Science, we dive into the glitchy, often confusing world of AI hallucinations - those moments when a large language model confidently feeds you a lie with a straight face. You aren't alone if you’ve felt misled by a chatbot.

Joining us as Dr Wei Zing to break down why these digital delusions happen and explore the surprising reality that while developers have the power to eliminate these errors, they might just choose to keep them around.

Recommended Reading:

  • Mathematical and Statistical Modelling research cluster
  • Why OpenAI’s solution to AI hallucinations would kill ChatGPT tomorrow - The Conversation

Credits

  • Host: Tabby Taylor Buck (Freelance Content Creator)
  • Guest: Dr Wei Xing (Lecturer in Mathematics at the University of Sheffield)
  • Podcast and Video Editor: Sophie Cowell (Freelance Content Creator)
  • Image: Created with Google Gemini
  • Produced by: Shaun Oliver (Marketing and Communications Manager at the University of Sheffield)
  • Produced by: Tabby Taylor Buck (Freelance Content Creator)
  • Support from: David Heath (Digital Engagement Officer at the University of Sheffield)
Correct as of content publication - 24/02/2026

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