Chairs of federal parliamentary committees in Canberra are raising alarms over the increasing volume of AI-generated submissions being sent to government inquiries. According to reports, these submissions often contain "hallucinations," a term used to describe instances where AI tools invent facts, studies, and academic citations that do not exist.

Guardian Australia analysis indicates that some committee reports have already inadvertently cited these fabricated sources. The issue presents a significant challenge for lawmakers, who rely on public input to inform legislative decisions. The primary concern is that the sheer volume of AI-produced material makes it difficult for staff and MPs to verify the veracity of the information provided. While the technology allows for rapid content creation, it is currently being used to flood the inquiry process with misinformation, forcing committees to implement more rigorous vetting procedures to ensure that policy is based on accurate data rather than machine-generated errors. The situation has prompted a call for increased vigilance among parliamentary staff to distinguish between genuine public feedback and automated fabrications.