Definition
An AI hallucination refers to the phenomenon where a language model (LLM) generates content that appears plausible and fluent but is factually incorrect, invented, or disconnected from reality. Hallucinations can take the form of invented facts, non-existent citations, fictitious statistics, or erroneous reasoning presented with confidence. In SEO, AI hallucinations are a major concern on multiple levels: for content generation (AI-produced texts must be verified), for Google's AI Overviews (which can present erroneous information extracted from unreliable sources), and for LLMO (understanding hallucinations helps optimize content to be cited as a reliable source). RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) systems aim to reduce hallucinations by grounding AI responses in verified sources.
Key Points
- AI-generated content that appears plausible but is factually false
- Major risk for SEO content creation and AI Overviews
- RAG and human verification are the primary remedies
Practical Examples
AI-generated content
An SEO article generated by ChatGPT claims a fictitious Google algorithm 'Osprey' was launched in 2023. This hallucination, if published without verification, harms the site's credibility and its E-E-A-T.
Erroneous AI Overviews
Google AI Overviews has sometimes generated incorrect answers (such as suggesting putting glue on pizza). These hallucinations underscore the importance of verifying any information from AI.
Frequently Asked Questions
LLMs generate text by predicting the most likely next word, without truly understanding meaning. They have no internal fact-checking mechanism and can combine information in plausible but incorrect ways.
Always proofread and fact-check AI-generated content. Cross-reference information with reliable sources, verify dates, figures, and citations. Use AI as a writing assistant, not as a source of truth.
Go Further with LemmiLink
Discover how LemmiLink can help you put these SEO concepts into practice.
Last updated: 2026-02-07