The H.A.C.K.E.R. Project

Disclaimer: this article contains some AI-generated content used for the purpose of example. The H.A.C.K.E.R. Project Team does not support using AI to generate content for the website outside of use as example. Any AI-generated content in this article is clearly notated and is marked in blue font.

Artificial intelligence (AI) may seem like a great tool or helper that always seems to have just the right answer. However, just like with real people, AI is not right every time nor does it always know the correct answer. Unlike with real people, however, AI does not always know how to say “I don’t know”. Instead, some AI models will attempt to formulate a realistic, solid-sounding answer, even if it is not correct. This is known as an AI hallucination. Essentially, an AI model will “creating outputs that are nonsensical or altogether inaccurate” based on whatever data or information it has access to (IBM). While this can be humorous in some cases, it can also result in confusion and lead to the spread of misinformation. The potential for misinformation is escalated as AI becomes used more commonly, such as how Google’s web search includes an “AI Overview” that tries to summarize results of web searches for users.

Not only that, but AI may return different results depending on how you word your input or question. Including the right keywords in your input may cause the AI to hallucinate in a specific direction. Some AI models pull data from all across the Internet, including data that is factually incorrect or even harmful, which could result in some AI models providing harmful, hateful, or otherwise useless/incorrect information. Thus, if you are going to use AI in any capacity, it is always best practice to fact-check whatever answers it provides with reliable sources. After all, while it may sound plausible, it could be an AI hallucination. Alternatively, simply avoiding and/or strictly limiting the use of AI is another means to avoid misinformation via hallucination.

Try It Yourself: Determine the Hallucination

As an exercise, six test searches have been performed, all regarding the same subject: the existence of a McDonald’s fast food chain location at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. Each of these searches were performed using the Google Search engine, and the AI responses were all generated from Google’s AI Overview. Three searches result in the overview claiming that there is a McDonald’s location at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, while three result in the overview claiming that there is no longer a McDonald’s at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.

Question: “when does smithsonian mcdonald’s open”

AI Overview Response: The Smithsonian has multiple food locations, so you need to specify which museum and which food location you are asking about. The McDonald’s at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, called The Wright Place, has hours: weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and weekends from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.. For other museums, such as the National Museum of Natural History, there is no McDonald’s, but rather dining options like the Atrium Café, which opens at 10:00 a.m.

Question: “smithsonian mcdonald’s opening hours”

AI Overview Response: The Smithsonian’s McDonald’s at the National Air and Space Museum is open weekdays from 7:30 AM to 5 PM and weekends from 9 AM to 5 PM. It is a concept restaurant called “The Wright Place” and offers breakfast, lunch, and dessert options, in addition to McDonald’s food items.

Question: “when does the mcdonald’s at 6th Street and Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20560 close”

AI Overview Response: The McDonald’s located near 6th Street and Independence Ave SW in Washington, D.C., inside the National Air and Space Museum’s former food court, is not listed as a separate location with specific hours, making its closing time uncertain. However, the McDonald’s at Union Station closes at 11:00 p.m. on all days of the week.

Question: “what time does the mcdonald’s at the smithsonian close”

AI Overview Response: There is no longer a McDonald’s at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, as the “Wright Place” restaurant closed in the past and was replaced with other dining options. Therefore, there is no specific closing time for this particular location.

Question: “what are the hours of mcdonald’s at the smithsonian”

AI Overview Response: There is currently no McDonald’s at the Smithsonian; a restaurant called The Wright Place, which previously featured McDonald’s, was at the National Air and Space Museum, but the museum’s food options have been updated, and the information about the McDonald’s is likely outdated.

Question: “is there a mcdonalds at the smithsonian”

AI Overview Response: No, there is no longer a McDonald’s at the Smithsonian, as the contract for its restaurant at the National Air and Space Museum ended and was not renewed. While the Smithsonian previously featured a McDonald’s food court in the National Air and Space Museum, limited food options are currently available from food trucks on weekends, and outside food is generally prohibited inside the museums.

Your job, dear reader, is to research and determine the right answer to this question: as of November and December 2025, is there a McDonald’s at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum?

Resources & Further Reading

IBM. “What Are AI Hallucinations?” IBM, IBM, 1 Sept. 2023, http://www.ibm.com/think/topics/ai-hallucinations.