Like so many of you, I love using AI chatbots.

They’ve saved me hours of work, turning tasks that once required painstaking effort into quick, simple solutions. As AI becomes a natural part of our productivity toolkit, it’s easy to forget that these tools aren’t flawless.

And that’s exactly what hit me on a lazy afternoon at Hub 2.0.

I was brainstorming with DeepSeek, throwing random questions at it to spark ideas for my next article. On a whim, I decided to ask: “What do you know about me as a person?” (don’t judge me, I know you’ve Googled yourself too!)

I expected to be impressed—just not by how wrong it was!

At first, the chatbot asked for more details since my name and location weren’t enough. Fair enough. So, I shared my LinkedIn profile, held my breath, and waited for magic.

Instead, I got a response that was… well, laughably off the mark.

Curious, I tried the same prompt with ChatGPT. The difference was striking—it provided significantly better, more accurate insights.

This was my little wake-up call: AI is incredible, but it’s not infallible. And if you’re using these tools for research, content creation, or decision-making, that’s something we all need to remember.

Two Key Lessons From My AI Reality Check

1.  Always Verify Sources

• If an AI provides facts, studies, or claims, ask the tool to identify the sources, then actually check them.
• Click through links, skim research papers, and make sure the information holds up.

2. Use Trusted Inputs for Better Outputs

• Tools like Google NotebookLM let you upload your own trusted materials (PDFs, websites, videos) so the AI grounds its answers in reliable data.
• This reduces the risk of “hallucinations” (made-up facts) and keeps your work accurate.

Want to explore AI’s limitations yourself? Try this prompt in your favorite chatbot:

PROMPT: What are your limitations as a system for people who are new to using AI chatbots? Give me 5 top tips to help me make the most of it.

The answers might surprise you.

The fact is, guys, AI is a game-changer, but it’s still evolving. The key is to use it wisely—question its responses, cross-check facts, and pair it with human judgment.

Because at the end of the day, the best results come when we work with AI, not just rely on it.

Meet Racheal ‘Rae’ Callaghan

A Digital Communications Consultant, strategist and entrepreneur with 15+ years in the advertising & digital marketing space. She has experience creating digital campaigns for well-known and loved brands locally & internationally.

She holds an MBA in Management Information Systems and is the Founder and Managing Director of Start Social Ltd, a boutique digital media consultancy based in Kingston, Jamaica.

Follow Start on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube: @startsocialcbn

LinkTree: linktr.ee/startsocialcbn