AI does not work like a calculator. A calculator always gives the same answer because it follows a fixed formula. AI is closer to asking a very well-read volunteer hiking leader a question at the trailhead: If you ask the same exact question twice, you might get the same answer, but you might also get slightly different wording or emphasis. That is because AI predicts words based on patterns, not fixed rules. It makes its best guess each time. Even when nothing changes, the system can choose slightly different paths in how it forms a response.
How AI systems like RAG Improves (but Doesn’t Perfect) Answers
Some AI systems use something called Retrieval Augmented Generation. Think of this like giving that same volunteer a stack of approved club documents before they answer. The AI searches those documents, pulls relevant sections, and then explains the answer in plain language. This improves accuracy because it limits what the AI is allowed to use. However, it is still interpreting those documents. If someone asks the same question in slightly different ways, the AI may focus on different passages each time. That can lead to answers that are worded differently, or occasionally incomplete or incorrect.
Repeating a Question Is Not the Same as Fact-Checking
It also helps to understand that repeating a question is not the same as double-checking a fact in a book. With AI, each response is a fresh attempt. If you keep asking in different ways, you are essentially rolling the dice again. Most of the time the answer will stay consistent, especially when the source documents are clear. But because the system is probabilistic and language-based, small variations can sometimes produce different results. That is normal behavior for modern AI systems.
Always Check the Source Material
This is the most important takeaway: always verify AI-generated answers against the original source documents. AI is a powerful tool for quickly surfacing and summarizing information, but it is not a replacement for reading the source material yourself.
If an answer matters, especially for decisions about safety, policy, or regulations, go back to the original document and confirm. Treat AI as a helpful starting point, not the final word.