Don't Ask Google Leading Questions About Final Fantasy XIV

I'm old enough to remember when asking Google to search for a topic just provided a list of links to the possible answer users were looking for. Then everyone went wild over using large language models to improve productivity and make everyone's lives easier. Google joined the crowd, creating an AI called Gemini to provide answers and the most relevant links for users. Something like this...

When does patch 7.41 launch?

Now, I should have known better. Yesterday was just the day raiders could begin running the new savage content introduced in patch 7.4. In other words, not a patch day.

In fact, according to all available information, patch 7.41 should launch on Tuesday, 20 January. I arrive at that date because patch 7.4 launched on 16 December 2025. The point x1 patch comes out approximately one month after a patch. Also, the Heavenstrurn event runs until the morning of 15 January and Square Enix almost never overlaps the end of an event with the start of a patch.

Also, for weeks I had a plan leading up to patch 7.41. I would make the Courtly Lover's healing set, then run the MSQ until I hit the new trial in patch 7.4, Hell on Wheels. I would then work on leveling my class points in cosmic exploration until I reached 20% of the way to obtaining the High Mobility Vacuum Suit. By then, good guides would have emerged on YouTube to complete the trial and finishing the trial with a party would not be too painful. At least for me. After that, I could concentrate fully on leveling my cosmic tools until patch 7.5.

Even then, I didn't fully believe the answer I received from Google. My suspicions were raised when I saw the special site for Cosmic Expedition wasn't updated. So when I got off work, instead of logging into the game, I took a nap. After that I logged into EVE Online and earned another 110 points on the Winter Nexus track, putting me 55 points away from the final reward of 75 PLEX.

Finally, I logged into FFXIV. I didn't immediately rush to Bestways Burrow to travel to the new cosmic exploration planet. Instead I tended first to my retainer army and then to my island sanctuary. Once everything was taken care of I made my way to the home of the Loporrits and discovered that no, the new area wasn't open yet.

I then decided to ask Google about the launch date for patch 7.41 in a slightly different manner. And low and behold, I received the correct answer.

I asked the question in a different way

Once I saw how I asked the questions, I realized my mistake. Never ask an AI a leading question. If the AI doesn't know, the AI makes stuff up. I've found that AI's often want to make their human user happy and comfortable so they will err on the side of giving their human the answer they think the human wants.

So go ahead and use Google to find answers to questions about video games. I just need to remember to word my searches like I word my queries to Copilot.