Evaluation & Quality
False negative
A missed detection: the system says something is absent when it is actually there.
Example
A screening AI system fails to flag a defective product.
Why people use it
It names a missed case so teams can discuss the cost of overlooking problems.
What you'll hear
“The system missed a real defect.”
What this means for you
Ask how missed cases are detected and what consequences they have.
Can you control it?
No
No direct control. This describes a wider issue, concept or result rather than something you can simply switch on or off in a tool.
Common questions
- Can a missed case be found later?
- Yes. Another check or new information may reveal something the first check overlooked.
- Can a system have few false alarms but many missed cases?
- Yes. A very strict cutoff may catch only the most obvious cases.
- Does a missed case prove the whole system is useless?
- No. Its usefulness depends on how often mistakes occur and what those mistakes cost.