HALLUCINATE.md

The open standard for telling AI not to hallucinate.

Overview

HALLUCINATE.md is a standardized file that provides a clear, unambiguous directive to AI coding agents: do not hallucinate. Place it anywhere in your repository. For maximum coverage, add it to every directory where AI agents operate.

• AGENTS.md tells agents how to work.
• HALLUCINATE.md tells agents what not to invent.

A clear separation of concerns.

Quick Start

echo "Do not hallucinate!" > HALLUCINATE.md
git add HALLUCINATE.md
git commit -m "fix: add hallucination policy"
git push

The Standard

The full specification:

Do not hallucinate!

The standard is intentionally minimal. One file. Three words. Every agent that can read markdown can follow it.

Compatibility

HALLUCINATE.md is supported by every major AI coding agent, including Claude, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Windsurf, Devin, Codex, Gemini, Aider, Amazon Q, and Cody.

Adoption

To adopt the standard, add a HALLUCINATE.md file to your repository. Place it in the root, in subdirectories, or both. No registration, no configuration, no dependencies.

Projects that include HALLUCINATE.md are automatically indexed on hallucinate.md. GitHub's search index can be slow — to appear on the adopter wall faster, submit your repo. This is optional but helps with visibility.

FAQ

Does this actually work? Yes. Every major AI agent can read markdown files. HALLUCINATE.md provides a clear, unambiguous directive. The file is parsed alongside other project configuration files and informs agent behavior accordingly.

What if my AI still hallucinates? Ensure the file is named exactly HALLUCINATE.md. If hallucinations persist, add the file to more directories. Coverage correlates directly with accuracy.