How to Check if an AI-Generated Citation Is Real

AI tools can generate citations that look convincing but may be fabricated or contain incorrect metadata. Here's a clear process to verify whether a citation truly exists.

1. Search authoritative registries

Look up the DOI, title, authors, or year in CrossRef, PubMed, Google Scholar, or OpenAlex. If no matching entry appears, there’s a strong chance the citation is fabricated.

2. Check metadata consistency

Mismatched author lists, incorrect years, or impossible volume/issue combinations are common indicators of AI-generated citations.

3. Confirm that the work actually exists

Even if metadata looks plausible, ensure you can actually access the work. Sometimes AI citations mimic real journal formats for nonexistent articles.

4. Check whether the reference supports the claim

A real paper might be cited incorrectly. Verify it actually addresses the topic or claim being attributed to it.

5. Use automated tools for scale

Manual checking is slow for long bibliographies. SourceVerify automates existence-checking, metadata repair, and audit trails using the SVRIS standard—so you can see exactly which fields matched (MATCH, CONTAINS, CONTRADICTION) and verify entire reference lists quickly and reliably.