Librarians Dumbfounded as People Keep Asking for Materials That Don't Exist

"In a statement from the International Committee of the Red Cross spotted by the magazine, the humanitarian organization cautioned that AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot are prone to generating fabricated archival references. "These systems do not conduct research, verify sources, or cross-check information," the ICRC, which maintains a vast library and archives, said in the warning. "They generate new content based on statistical patterns, and may therefore produce invented catalogue numbers, descriptions of documents, or even references to platforms that have never existed.""

"Library of Virginia chief of researcher engagement Sarah Falls told SciAm that the AI inventions are wasting the time of librarians who are asked to hunt down nonexistent records. Fifteen percent of emailed reference questions that Fall's library receives, she claims, are now ChatGPT-generated, which include hallucinated primary source documents and published works. "For our staff, it is much harder to prove that a unique record doesn't exist," Falls added."

"Other librarians and researchers have spoken out about AI's effects on their profession. "This morning I spent time looking up citations for a student," wrote one user on Bluesky who identified themselves as a scholarly communications librarian. "By the time I got to the third (with zero results), I asked where they got the list, and the student admitted they were from Google's AI summary." "As a librarian who works with researchers," another wrote, "can confirm this is true.""

AI chatbots such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot generate fabricated archival references and invented catalogue numbers. The International Committee of the Red Cross warned that these systems do not conduct research, verify sources, or cross-check information, and may produce descriptions of documents or references to nonexistent platforms. Librarians report increasing time spent chasing nonexistent records. Library of Virginia chief of researcher engagement Sarah Falls said fifteen percent of emailed reference questions now appear ChatGPT-generated and can include hallucinated primary sources and published works. Librarians report difficulty proving a unique record does not exist. Social posts recount students citing AI-generated lists and admitting the source.

Read at Futurism