What if the words we use to describe AI are misleading us—and even shaping how we regulate, trust, and collaborate with technology itself?

In this revelatory episode of the Tech Humanist Show, host Kate O’Neill sits down with Anna Mills and Nate Angell, co-authors of a provocative new paper arguing that the term “AI hallucination” may be doing more harm than good.

Together, they explore why “mirage” is a much better metaphor for those times AI gets things wrong—one that empowers human users and encourages critical thinking, rather than mystifying the technology or making it seem almost sentient.

Topics Covered:

Background and Motivation for the AI “Mirage” Paper
Origins and Issues with the Term “AI Hallucination”
The Case for “AI Mirage” as a Better Metaphor
Deep Dive into the Mirage Metaphor
Power Dynamics, Language, and Metaphors in AI Discourse
Implications for Educators, Technologists, and Policymakers
The Publication Process and Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Adoption, Use, and Evolution of AI Terminology
Human Agency, Hope, and Creativity in AI’s Future

Connect with Anna Mills and Nate Angell:
LinkedIn: Anna Mills + Nate Angell
Paper: Are We Tripping? The Mirage of AI Hallucinations