Most RAG Hallucinations Are Retrieval Failures: How the Retrieval Brick Decides What the Model Can Invent

Short summary

This article argues that most hallucinations in RAG systems stem from retrieval failures rather than model limitations. The core thesis is 'garbage-in': if retrieval surfaces the wrong or incomplete context, the model fills gaps with fabricated content. Fixing the retrieval layer eliminates the source material for hallucinations.

• •Most RAG hallucinations originate from retrieval failures, not model flaws
• •Fixing retrieval quality removes the basis for model fabrication
• •Part of the Enterprise Document Intelligence series

Generated with AI, which can make mistakes.