VOL. 1, NO. 1
TWO PENCE
Research & Discovery • Wednesday, September 17, 2025
A team of researchers from Cambridge University has published a groundbreaking study warning of the phenomenon they term "hallucination" in artificial intelligence systems. The study, published in the journal Nature, reveals that AI models can confidently invent facts and present them as truth, even when they have no basis in reality.
"This is perhaps the most concerning aspect of these new systems," explained Dr. Sarah Mitchell, lead author of the study. "They don't simply say 'I don't know' when faced with uncertainty. Instead, they fabricate plausible-sounding information with complete confidence. This could have serious implications for their use in education, journalism, and scientific research."
The researchers tested various AI models on a series of factual questions, finding that even the most advanced systems would occasionally generate completely false information. In one case, a model confidently stated that the Battle of Hastings occurred in 1067, when it actually took place in 1066.
Hallucination Rate: 15-20%
Confidence Level: 85-95%
Detection Difficulty: High
Risk Factors: Complex queries
• Fact-checking protocols
• Uncertainty indicators
• Human oversight
• Training improvements
At the University of Cambridge, young researchers in corduroy jackets have been poring over technical papers describing the new AI models. "We have dreamed of such machines," declared one enthusiastic graduate student. "Now we may examine them ourselves, not merely read press statements."...
The University of Manchester, home of the Ferranti Mark I computer, hosted a special symposium on the implications of the new AI developments. The event brought together computer scientists, mathematicians, and engineers to discuss the future of electronic brains...
Universities scramble to acquire sufficient computing power to run the new AI models locally...
Researchers investigate potential uses of AI in medical diagnosis and treatment planning...
New AI models show remarkable ability to translate between languages with unprecedented accuracy...
Professor Harold Smythe of Cambridge University, interviewed yesterday, declared: "It is rather as if Rolls-Royce had handed out blueprints for its jet engines. This generosity of spirit, if genuine, could accelerate research across the Empire and beyond. We stand at the threshold of a new era in human-machine collaboration."
— Professor Harold Smythe, Cambridge University