ChatGPT References Unveiled: Distinguishing the Reliable from the Fake

Abstract

This study explored the potential of ChatGPT in the search for reliable references. Results showed that the reliability of ChatGPT's references vary across different source types. For journal articles, they were all fabricated and not compliant with APA 7 format. Webpages did not match actual existing sites. However, for books, the generated references correctly corresponded to real, existing ones. In the case of journal websites, the links within the responses were functional. Although this exploration gained interesting insights, researchers are strongly recommended not to depend on ChatGPT for references due to accuracy issues and must undertake manual, scholarly searches.

Keywords:

• Artificial intelligence
• ChatGPT
• fake references
• information accuracy
• large language models
• literature review
• references
• scholarly research

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).