The Real-World Risks of AI Overviews

A quick case study on how relying on AI answers can steer you wrong!

Do you find yourself relying on AI overviews — the automatic answers that search engines like Google put at the top of search results?

AI overviews can be helpful, but they don't always get it right. Here's a quick example.

Last night, a dozen families (or more) visited the Mississauga Convention Centre looking for the SchoolFinder Fair, which Google (wrongly!) told them was happening.

Here's a screenshot of the AI Overview on Google from this morning, October 29:

Eagle-eyed readers will notice that October 28, 2026 was a Wednesday, not a Tuesday. Indeed, we were at the Mississauga Convention Centre for a fair on Tuesday, October 28, 2025 — last year — but Google erroneously reported the same date for 2026: a date that doesn't exist!

Apologies to those who went to the Convention Centre last night

To those who made the trip to the Mississauga Convention Centre expecting a fair last night, we apologize! We're working on updates to our own websites' content to better defend against this kind of AI error in future.

Use caution when relying on AI overviews

AI overviews can make mistakes, as this case makes clear. Remember, you can click through the links in an AI overview to confirm the information on official websites. Please don't take AI overviews for granted, or you just might show up at an event when there's no event happening!

Always double-check that the information you're getting from AI is accurate and up-to-date, especially if you plan to spend time and money.

Again, apologies to those who were misled by an AI overview about last night's fictitious fair. Please reach us at [email protected] if you have any questions about how this happened. Thank you!