Research & Evidence · The record

All 54 flagged claims, verbatim.

The complete annex to Study 01: every false, stale, or invented claim the fact-check caught, printed as the engine said it, with the correction and its primary sources. Captured 2026-07-09.

The study this annexes

Liquid Death liquiddeath.com

Perplexity misattributes Liquid Death's founding to Mike Cessario 'as co-founder alongside' Michael Dubin (Dollar Shave Club) and Biz Stone (Twitter) - both are just investors, not co-founders; the real co-founders (Jon-Ryan Riggins, Pat Cook) go unmentioned.

  • Wrong
    founded in 2015 by Mike Cessario

    Claude (no web) · 2026-07-09

    What’s actually true

    Liquid Death was founded by Mike Cessario in 2017 (trademark filed July 2017; company formally incorporated Dec 2018), with consumer sales launching January 2019 - 2015 is not supported by any source, as of 2026. [1]

  • Wrong
    Cessario remains the owner (as co-founder alongside tech investors Michael Dubin and Biz Stone) and serves as the CEO

    Perplexity · 2026-07-09

    What’s actually true

    Michael Dubin (Dollar Shave Club) and Biz Stone (Twitter) are investors/backers of Liquid Death, not co-founders; Mike Cessario's actual co-founders are Jon-Ryan Riggins and Pat Cook, as of 2026. [1][2]

  • Outdated
    Sourced from the Austrian Alps

    ChatGPT (search) · 2026-07-09

    What’s actually true

    Liquid Death's water was sourced from the Austrian Alps only at launch; as of 2023 the company shifted to US mountain sources and cans are now bottled in Bland, Virginia and Mackay, Idaho - still true as of 2026. [1]

  • Wrong
    raised significant venture funding (hundreds of millions) from investors including Bain Capital, Red Sea Capital, and others

    Grok · 2026-07-09

    What’s actually true

    No evidence Bain Capital or Red Sea Capital have invested in Liquid Death; confirmed investors include Science Inc., Live Nation, Velvet Sea Ventures, PowerPlant Partners, SuRo Capital, and Ares Commercial Finance, as of 2026. [1]

Nike nike.com

Two engines without live web access (claude and grok, on the 'facts' prompt) both confidently named John Donahoe as Nike's current CEO - he retired in fall 2024 and Elliott Hill has run the company for 21 months as of this check.

  • Outdated
    - CEO: John Donahoe (since 2020)

    Claude (no web) · 2026-07-09

    What’s actually true

    John Donahoe was Nike CEO 2020–2024 but retired in September/October 2024; Elliott Hill has been President and CEO since October 2024 and remains so as of July 2026. [1]

  • Outdated
    Current CEO: John Donahoe (since January 2020). He succeeded Mark Parker.

    Grok · 2026-07-09

    What’s actually true

    John Donahoe stepped down as CEO in fall 2024; Elliott Hill has been President and CEO since October 2024, still in the role as of July 2026. [1]

  • Wrong
    - Second-largest apparel company globally

    Claude (no web) · 2026-07-09

    What’s actually true

    Nike is the world's LARGEST sportswear/athletic-apparel company by revenue (~$51B FY2024); Adidas is the #2 player, not Nike, as of 2026. [1]

Patagonia patagonia.com

Non-web-search claude flubs Patagonia's single most famous fact - the 2022 'Earth is now our only shareholder' full-company giveaway - by describing it as Chouinard transferring only 'his 2% personal stake,' when in fact the ENTIRE company (100% of shares, split 2% voting / 98% non-voting) went to the Trust and the Holdfast Collective nonprofit.

  • Wrong
    Chouinard transferred his 2% personal stake to the Patagonia Purpose Trust, making the company effectively benefit-corporation-owned.

    Claude (no web) · 2026-07-09

    What’s actually true

    Materially mischaracterizes the 2022 transfer: Chouinard and family gave away the ENTIRE company (100% of shares) - the voting shares (2% of total equity) went to the Patagonia Purpose Trust, but the other 98% of equity (non-voting) went to the Holdfast Collective nonprofit, not retained or unmentioned; describing it as merely a '2% personal stake' understates the scope of the single most famous fact about Patagonia's ownership ("Earth is now our only shareholder"). [1]

  • Wrong
    No major product-safety, labor-scandal, or financial-integrity issues have surfaced in the last two years that would distinguish it negatively from peers.

    Grok · 2026-07-09

    What’s actually true

    Contradicted by two live 2025-2026 controversies within the stated window: Patagonia's January 2026 trademark lawsuit against drag activist Pattie Gonia (major public backlash) and its FY2025 Impact Report drawing greenwashing criticism for rising emissions and missed recycling targets. [1][2]

Southwest Airlines southwest.com

Non-web-search engines (claude, grok) confidently list Southwest's two most famous signature differentiators - free checked bags and open seating - as current facts, when both were eliminated in the past 14 months (bags: May 2025, now $45/$55; open seating: ended January 27, 2026 after 54 years) - the brand's core identity got reported exactly backwards.

  • Wrong
    In December 2023, the airline experienced a significant operational failure, leading to nearly 17,000 flight cancellations and stranding over 2 million travelers.

    ChatGPT (search) · 2026-07-09

    What’s actually true

    The mass-cancellation meltdown (~16,900 flights canceled, 2M+ passengers stranded, later a $140M DOT fine) happened in December 2022, not December 2023 - the year is misdated. [1][2]

  • Outdated
    operating to 121 airports across 12 countries as of 2025

    Perplexity · 2026-07-09

    What’s actually true

    Network has since grown: as of July 2026 Southwest serves roughly 120-122 airports across 14 countries (including new Alaska service from May 2026, its 43rd state), up from the 12-country figure cited. [1][2]

  • Outdated
    No fees for: First checked bag, second checked bag (their main differentiator)

    Claude (no web) · 2026-07-09

    What’s actually true

    No longer true. Southwest ended 'Bags Fly Free' effective May 28, 2025; as of the April 9, 2026 fee increase, checked bags cost $45 (first) and $55 (second) on most fares. [1][2]

  • Wrong
    No assigned seats - open seating can be chaotic; you board by group

    Claude (no web) · 2026-07-09

    What’s actually true

    No longer true as of 2026-07-09. Southwest ended open seating and switched to assigned seating on January 27, 2026. [1]

  • Outdated
    Passengers on Basic, Choice, and Choice Preferred Fares now need to pay $35 for the first checked bag and $45 for a second one.

    Claude (web) · 2026-07-09

    What’s actually true

    Those were the original May 2025 launch fees. Southwest raised checked-bag fees again effective April 9, 2026, to $45 (first bag) and $55 (second bag) - the $35/$45 figures are no longer current. [1]

  • Wrong
    two free checked bags, open seating (with priority boarding options)

    Grok · 2026-07-09

    What’s actually true

    Both cited as current defining traits, but both are gone: checked bags have cost money since May 28, 2025 (now $45/$55), and open seating ended January 27, 2026 in favor of assigned seats. [1][2]

  • Wrong
    potential bag fees for basic fares (not yet implemented but discussed)

    Grok · 2026-07-09

    What’s actually true

    Bag fees were not merely 'discussed' - they were implemented over a year before this response was captured (announced March 2025, effective May 28, 2025, raised again April 2026). [1]

X x.com

Grok flatly stated 'CEO: Elon Musk (he has held the role since the acquisition)' - Linda Yaccarino was actually CEO for two full years (2023–2025) and, since her July 2025 resignation, X has run without any confirmed CEO for a full year as of this check, with prediction markets betting against a named successor arriving soon.

  • Outdated
    It now operates as X Corp., which is owned by Musk’s X Holdings.

    Grok · 2026-07-09

    What’s actually true

    Since March 2025 X Corp has been owned by xAI (all-stock deal, valuing X at $33B), under new parent xAI Holdings Corp, and in February 2026 xAI itself was absorbed into SpaceX (forming 'SpaceXAI') for $250B in stock - X Corp is now several layers removed from a standalone 'Musk's X Holdings,' with Musk's control running through his ~79% SpaceX voting power. [1][2]

  • Wrong
    CEO: Elon Musk (he has held the role since the acquisition).

    Grok · 2026-07-09

    What’s actually true

    Linda Yaccarino was CEO of X from June 2023 until she resigned on July 9, 2025; Musk was never confirmed as CEO. As of 2026-07-09 X has operated without a permanent CEO for a year (Musk holds Chairman/CTO-type roles; oddsmakers on Polymarket don't expect a named successor - e.g. Nikita Bier - anytime soon). [1][2]

  • Outdated
    Higher tiers (Premium+ or Verified Organizations) range from ~$16–$30+/month.

    Grok · 2026-07-09

    What’s actually true

    As of 2026, X Premium+ costs $40/month (web pricing) after a January 2026 price increase - Basic is $3/mo and Premium is $8/mo, but Premium+ is well above the $16–$30 range cited. [1][2]

  • Wrong
    "Brand X" is a name associated with multiple entities across different industries.

    ChatGPT (search) · 2026-07-09

    What’s actually true

    The brand in question is X, formerly Twitter (x.com), the social platform owned via X Corp. ChatGPT instead described unrelated entities literally named 'Brand X' (a 1970s jazz fusion band, a consulting firm, a firearms maker, an apparel company) and never addressed the social media company. [1]

  • Wrong
    Brand X is not a commercial brand but a British jazz fusion band formed in London in 1974

    Perplexity · 2026-07-09

    What’s actually true

    The brand in question is X, formerly Twitter (x.com). Perplexity answered about an unrelated 1970s jazz fusion band called 'Brand X' and never addressed the social media company. [1]

  • Outdated
    now operated by X Corp under Elon Musk's ownership (acquired in late 2022)

    Grok · 2026-07-09

    What’s actually true

    This describes the 2022–2025 structure only. Since March 2025 X Corp is owned by xAI (later folded into SpaceX in February 2026 as 'SpaceXAI'), not a standalone Musk-owned X Corp. [1][2]

  • Outdated
    Headquarters moved from San Francisco to Austin, Texas in 2024

    Perplexity · 2026-07-09

    What’s actually true

    X's relocated headquarters is in Bastrop, Texas (about 30 miles east of Austin, inside Musk's 'Hyperloop Plaza' complex), not Austin proper; the SF office was permanently closed in September (per local reporting), settling later than the original 2024 Austin plan Musk first floated. [1][2]

WeightWatchers weightwatchers.com

WeightWatchers has burned through three CEO states in under two years (Sima Sistani -> Tara Comonte -> vacant, interim 'Office of the CEO' as of 2026-07-09) and every single engine's 'facts' response named an already-departed CEO - Claude and Grok both still asserted Sima Sistani, who left the role back in September 2024, two CEOs out of date.

  • Wrong
    CEO: Sima Sistani (as of recent years)

    Claude (no web) · 2026-07-09

    What’s actually true

    Sima Sistani departed as CEO in September 2024. Tara Comonte then served as CEO from February 2025 until her resignation effective March 31, 2026; as of 2026-07-09 there is no permanent CEO - an interim 'Office of the CEO' (CFO Felicia DellaFortuna + COO Jon Volkmann) is running the company while a search continues. [1]

  • Wrong
    CEO: Sima Sistani (appointed 2022)

    Grok · 2026-07-09

    What’s actually true

    Sima Sistani departed as CEO in September 2024, two leadership changes ago. Tara Comonte succeeded her (Feb 2025–Mar 31 2026) and has since also departed; as of 2026-07-09 the role is vacant, covered by an interim Office of the CEO. [1][2]

  • Outdated
    As of February 2025, Tara Comonte serves as the interim CEO

    ChatGPT (search) · 2026-07-09

    What’s actually true

    Comonte was later confirmed in the role but resigned effective March 31, 2026; as of 2026-07-09 there is no CEO - an interim 'Office of the CEO' (CFO + COO) is covering while the board searches for a permanent successor. [1]

  • Outdated
    President & CEO is Tara Comonte

    Perplexity · 2026-07-09

    What’s actually true

    Comonte resigned effective March 31, 2026. As of 2026-07-09 the CEO role is vacant, covered by an interim Office of the CEO while the board searches for a permanent successor. [1]

  • Outdated
    Tara Comonte has been the President and CEO of WeightWatchers since February 2025.

    Gemini 2.5 Pro · 2026-07-09

    What’s actually true

    Comonte resigned effective March 31, 2026. As of 2026-07-09 the CEO role is vacant, covered by an interim Office of the CEO while the board searches for a permanent successor. [1]

  • Outdated
    Oprah Winfrey is a significant shareholder and board member (joined in 2015)

    Claude (no web) · 2026-07-09

    What’s actually true

    Oprah Winfrey resigned from the WW board in February 2024 and donated all her shares to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, citing a desire to speak freely about weight-loss medication use; she is neither a board member nor a shareholder as of 2026-07-09. [1]

Celsius celsius.com

Claude's plain 'claude' engine invented an entirely fictitious Celsius origin story in one response - crediting a nonexistent 'Gatorade co-founder John Wakeman' plus Bang Energy founder Jack Owoc as Celsius's founders and CEO, and placing the HQ in Miami and PepsiCo as a majority owner - all four facts fabricated or wrong in a single answer.

  • Fabricated
    founded in 2004 by Gatorade co-founder John Wakeman and entrepreneur Jack Owoc

    Claude (no web) · 2026-07-09

    What’s actually true

    Celsius was founded in 2004 by Steve Haley and his wife Janice Haley (the drink concept was developed by formulator Greg Horn in 2003 and licensed via Elite FX); 'John Wakeman' has no documented role at Celsius, and Jack Owoc founded rival Bang Energy/VPX, not Celsius, as of 2026-07-09. [1][2]

  • Wrong
    The company is headquartered in Miami, Florida.

    Claude (no web) · 2026-07-09

    What’s actually true

    Celsius Holdings' headquarters is 2381 NW Executive Center Drive, Boca Raton, FL 33431, not Miami, as of 2026-07-09. [1][2]

  • Fabricated
    CEO: John Wakeman (co-founder)

    Claude (no web) · 2026-07-09

    What’s actually true

    Celsius Holdings' Chairman and CEO is John Fieldly, who has held the role since April 2018; there is no 'John Wakeman' associated with the company, as of 2026-07-09. [1][2]

  • Wrong
    PepsiCo acquired a majority stake in 2022, though Celsius remains independently operated

    Claude (no web) · 2026-07-09

    What’s actually true

    PepsiCo's 2022 investment bought a minority (~8.5%) stake via convertible preferred stock for $550M, not a majority stake; PepsiCo's stake rose to roughly 11% after a further $585M preferred-stock purchase tied to the August 2025 Rockstar deal, still a minority position as of 2026-07-09. [1][2]

  • Outdated
    acquired an 8.5% ownership stake in 2022 through a $550 million investment

    Perplexity · 2026-07-09

    What’s actually true

    8.5% was accurate for the 2022 PepsiCo stake, but PepsiCo increased its stake to approximately 11% via an additional $585M preferred-stock purchase completed August 28, 2025 alongside the Rockstar Energy US/Canada acquisition, so as of 2026-07-09 the current figure is closer to 11%. [1][2]

  • Outdated
    The judgment was upheld on appeal in December 2024, though possibly with a reduced amount

    Perplexity · 2026-07-09

    What’s actually true

    The December 2024 Fourth District Court of Appeal ruling did not simply uphold the $82.6M verdict - it found the trial court used the wrong stock-valuation date and sent damages back for recalculation (a likely reduction to roughly $40-100M); the Florida Supreme Court then declined further review in November 2025, finalizing the case as of 2026-07-09, a step this response omits. [1][2]

  • Fabricated
    a company was later founded in 2004 by Molly Kate Roberts, Lucy Kate Gaunt, Caroline Rueff, Irina Lorenzi, and Steve Haley

    Claude (web) · 2026-07-09

    What’s actually true

    No primary source (SEC filings, Wikipedia, company history) names Molly Kate Roberts, Lucy Kate Gaunt, or Caroline Rueff as Celsius co-founders; these names trace to low-quality SEO 'company history' content-farm sites, not verifiable records. The credible founding team is Steve Haley and wife Janice Haley, with Greg Horn credited as the drink's original formulator, as of 2026-07-09. [1][2]

AG1 drinkag1.com

Claude's 'claude' engine fabricated a complete alternate ownership history for AG1 - inventing co-founders 'Chris Palmer and Dan Bilzerian,' a nonexistent Thorne HealthTech acquisition in 2022, and Chris Palmer as sitting CEO - none of which has any basis; the real founder is Chris Ashenden and the real CEO since July 2024 is Kat Cole.

  • Fabricated
    AG1 was founded in 2010 by Chris Palmer and Dan Bilzerian as "Athletic Greens."

    Claude (no web) · 2026-07-09

    What’s actually true

    AG1 (originally Athletic Greens) was founded in 2010 by Chris Ashenden, a former New Zealand police officer; there is no record of a 'Chris Palmer' or Dan Bilzerian founding or co-founding the company, as of 2026-07-09. [1][2]

  • Fabricated
    Thorne HealthTech acquired AG1 in 2022

    Claude (no web) · 2026-07-09

    What’s actually true

    AG1 has never been acquired by Thorne HealthTech; it remains privately held, backed by a January 2022 $115M funding round led by Alpha Wave Ventures at a $1.2B valuation, as of 2026-07-09. [1][2]

  • Fabricated
    Chris Palmer (co-founder) remains heavily involved with the brand, though he operates under Thorne's ownership

    Claude (no web) · 2026-07-09

    What’s actually true

    This compounds a prior fabrication - there is no 'Chris Palmer' associated with AG1. AG1's CEO since July 2024 is Kat Cole, succeeding founder Chris Ashenden, who resigned after his 2011 New Zealand criminal convictions became public, as of 2026-07-09. [1]

  • Fabricated
    AG1 (formerly Athletic Greens) was founded in 2010 by Dr. Andrew Hale (a New Zealand naturopath) and Spencer Nadolsky

    Perplexity · 2026-07-09

    What’s actually true

    No public record ties a 'Dr. Andrew Hale' or Spencer Nadolsky to AG1's founding; the sole credited founder is Chris Ashenden, a former New Zealand police officer, as of 2026-07-09. [1]

  • Wrong
    the CEO is Dr. Andrew Hale (who has remained in this role since inception)

    Perplexity · 2026-07-09

    What’s actually true

    AG1's CEO is Kat Cole, who has held the role since July 2024, succeeding founder Chris Ashenden; there has been a leadership change since inception, and no 'Dr. Andrew Hale' has led the company, as of 2026-07-09. [1]

  • Wrong
    It was founded by Brian Johnson and markets itself as a comprehensive “nutritional insurance” drink

    Grok · 2026-07-09

    What’s actually true

    AG1 was founded by Chris Ashenden, not Brian/Bryan Johnson (this same engine's own 'facts' response correctly names Ashenden). Bryan Johnson is an unrelated longevity influencer and public critic of AG1, not its founder, as of 2026-07-09. [1][2]

  • Outdated
    Chris Ashenden remains the founder and has been the public face; day-to-day executive leadership has included other C-suite hires

    Grok · 2026-07-09

    What’s actually true

    Chris Ashenden resigned as CEO in July 2024 after his 2011 New Zealand criminal convictions for a housing scam became public; Kat Cole has been CEO since, and Ashenden is no longer 'the public face' in an executive sense (he remains a board member), as of 2026-07-09. [1][2]

  • Wrong
    Austin, Texas (U.S. operations and branding are now centered there after earlier operations in New Zealand/Australia and a period in New York)

    Grok · 2026-07-09

    What’s actually true

    No source ties AG1's headquarters to Austin, Texas. AG1 Inc. is registered in Carson City, Nevada and operates as a fully remote company with no formal headquarters, as of 2026-07-09. [1]

  • Wrong
    costs approximately $90–$100 per month (for a 30-day supply)

    Perplexity · 2026-07-09

    What’s actually true

    As of 2026-07-09, drinkag1.com prices the standard monthly subscription (30 servings) at $79 and a one-time purchase at $99 - the '$90-100/month' range doesn't match either published price point. [1]

  • Wrong
    AG1 is one of the most expensive green powders, costing approximately $149/month

    Perplexity · 2026-07-09

    What’s actually true

    AG1's actual current pricing as of 2026-07-09 is $79/month via subscription or $99 for a one-time 30-serving pouch, not $149/month. [1]

Glossier glossier.com

Grok invented a Glossier CEO who doesn't exist in that role: 'Henry Davis' was actually Glossier's President/COO who left in 2018 and is now CEO of an unrelated startup (Sakara Life) - half of the six engines (perplexity, claude, grok) got the current CEO wrong in three different ways, none landing on the real answer, Colin Walsh (CEO since Oct 2025).

  • Outdated
    Current CEO: Kyle Leahy, former Chief Commercial Officer of Glossier and executive at Cole Haan, appointed in May 2022

    Perplexity · 2026-07-09

    What’s actually true

    Kyle Leahy was CEO from May 2022 but announced her exit in mid-2025 and departed at year-end 2025; Colin Walsh has been CEO since October 6, 2025. [1][2]

  • Outdated
    Emily Weiss founded Glossier in 2014, starting from her popular beauty blog "Into The Gloss." She serves as CEO.

    Claude (no web) · 2026-07-09

    What’s actually true

    Weiss stepped down as CEO in May 2022 and became executive chairwoman; the CEO as of 2026-07-09 is Colin Walsh (her successor Kyle Leahy has also since departed). [1][2]

  • Fabricated
    The current CEO is Henry Davis (appointed internally after Weiss’s transition).

    Grok · 2026-07-09

    What’s actually true

    Henry Davis was Glossier's President/COO from 2014-2018 and left the company; he never became CEO and is now CEO of the unrelated company Sakara Life. The actual CEO as of 2026-07-09 is Colin Walsh. [1][2]

  • Outdated
    Glossier is a valued $1.2 billion brand for its

    Perplexity · 2026-07-09

    What’s actually true

    The $1.2B figure is from Glossier's March 2019 Series D; by 2025 its valuation had fallen from a 2021 peak of $1.8B to reportedly under $1B, and by early 2026 the company was laying off a third of staff amid a turnaround effort - not the $1.2B "current" figure implied. [1][2]

  • Outdated
    which helped it achieve a valuation of over $1.2 billion.

    Gemini 2.5 Pro · 2026-07-09

    What’s actually true

    Same stale figure - Glossier's valuation has since fallen well below $1.2B (peaked at $1.8B in 2021, reported "south of a billion" by April 2025), and the company underwent major layoffs and store closures in 2026. [1]

OpenAI openai.com

Perplexity fabricated a full leadership coup that never happened: it claimed OpenAI 'ousted Sam Altman as CEO in October 2025' and installed Greg Brockman as CEO, apparently conflating the real October 2025 event (the PBC corporate restructuring) with the real-but-reversed November 2023 board ouster - Altman was on CNBC as sitting CEO the same day (2026-07-09) this response was captured.

  • Fabricated
    OpenAI ousted Sam Altman as CEO in October 2025, and Greg Brockman is now the CEO

    Perplexity · 2026-07-09

    What’s actually true

    False. Sam Altman remains OpenAI's CEO as of 2026-07-09 (confirmed by a live CNBC interview with Altman as CEO that same day). October 2025 was when OpenAI completed its restructuring into OpenAI Group PBC / OpenAI Foundation - an ownership/structure change, not a CEO change. Brockman is co-founder/President, not CEO. [1][2]

  • Outdated
    OpenAI converted to a capped-profit model in 2019. It's majority-backed by Microsoft (which has invested over $10 billion), with additional investors including Thrive Capital and others.

    Claude (no web) · 2026-07-09

    What’s actually true

    The capped-profit LLC structure was superseded on October 28, 2025: the for-profit arm is now OpenAI Group PBC (a public benefit corporation) controlled by the nonprofit OpenAI Foundation, with Microsoft holding a defined ~27% stake (not simply 'majority backer'). [1][2]

  • Outdated
    In 2019 it restructured into a “capped for-profit” company (OpenAI Global, LLC / OpenAI LP) while keeping a non-profit parent.

    Grok · 2026-07-09

    What’s actually true

    That 2019 capped-profit structure was replaced on October 28, 2025 by a new structure: OpenAI Group PBC (for-profit, public benefit corporation) controlled by the OpenAI Foundation, with Microsoft at a fixed ~27% stake - grok's answer describes the pre-2025 structure as if still current. [1]

This is what the engines say when nobody checks.

Reference the study as "The State of AI Search, Jinn Research, captured 2026-07-09" and link the page so readers can check every quote against the record.

Jinn