Citations generated by ChatGPT can be real, but are not guaranteed to be unless explicitly verified. Here's a breakdown:

1. Default Behavior (Without Browsing or Verification)

When you ask for citations:
ChatGPT may generate plausible-looking but fake citations (also known as hallucinations).

These may include real author names and journal titles, but the combination might not exist.

2. When Verified (Using the Web Tool or With Explicit Checks)

If you ask:
"Can you give me real, verified citations?"
— and I use the web tool or rely on known sources, then I can give accurate and verifiable citations.

3. Best Practice for You

If you’re using citations for research, school, or publication:
Always verify any citation provided by ChatGPT via Google Scholar, PubMed, or another academic database.

You can also ask me to fact-check or search for real sources only using up-to-date tools.

Would you like me to generate a real citation on a topic and verify it for you?