Split the output into checkable claims and verify each important fact, date, quote and citation against primary or authoritative sources.
Use care30 minute route
I need to verify an AI answer
Treat fluent AI output as a set of claims to test, not as evidence, and verify the highest-impact statements against original current sources.
Quick answer
The safest way to start
Split the output into checkable claims and verify each important fact, date, quote and citation against primary or authoritative sources.
Turn the answer into a short checklist of statements that could be true or false.
Do not treat generated citations as evidence until the source exists, opens correctly and supports the exact claim.
Do not use AI verification as a substitute for a qualified professional or official current source in medical, legal, financial, safety or security-critical decisions.
Every high-impact factual claim has an opened source.
1 · Triage
Quick checks before changing anything
Use these checks to narrow the problem and avoid applying an unrelated fix.
Identify the decision the answer will affect
Verification effort should increase when the output affects health, law, money, security, employment or public publication.
Separate facts from suggestions
Mark dates, names, numbers, quotations, citations and causal claims separately from brainstorming or stylistic advice.
Check source access
A citation is not verified until you open the source, confirm it exists and read the relevant section in context.
2 · Stabilize
Safe first actions
Mark actions as you complete them. Progress is stored only in this browser.
3 · Diagnose and resolve
Step-by-step route
Continue only when the result of the current step supports the next one.
- 1
Decompose the answer
Separate claims, assumptions, recommendations and missing information.
Expected resultYou know exactly what requires evidence. - 2
Verify source and date
Open the original source, confirm authorship, publication date, scope and whether the quoted information appears.
Expected resultFake, outdated or misrepresented citations are removed. - 3
Cross-check interpretation
Compare another independent source and look for exceptions or conflicting definitions.
Expected resultThe conclusion reflects the source rather than merely repeating it. - 4
Document confidence
Record verified, uncertain and unsupported claims and revise the final output accordingly.
Expected resultReaders can distinguish evidence from uncertainty.
Stop and escalate when
- Do not use AI verification as a substitute for a qualified professional or official current source in medical, legal, financial, safety or security-critical decisions.
4 · Verify
How to know the problem is resolved
- Every high-impact factual claim has an opened source.
- Dates, definitions and scope match the intended use.
- Unsupported claims are removed, qualified or clearly labeled.
5 · Build the skill
Recommended learning route
Open these lessons in order when you need more detail or want to prevent the issue from returning.
Verify factual claims
Check dates, numbers, quotes and current information against trustworthy sources.
AI & Productivity · Research and VerificationCompare sources and disagreements
Look for primary evidence and explain uncertainty rather than hiding it.
AI & Productivity · Research and VerificationCreate an AI-assisted research plan
Break a broad question into claims, evidence needs and search tasks.
AI & Productivity · Research and VerificationRecognize hallucinations and limitations
Expect missing context, fabricated details and confident mistakes.
AI & Productivity · AI FoundationsKeep human sign-off
Make the responsible person review and own the final decision.
AI & Productivity · Privacy and Responsible Use6 · Practice and reference
TipsMake tools and guides
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Common questions
FAQ
Can an AI-generated citation look real but be false?
Yes. A model can combine plausible author names, titles, journals and links. Open every important citation and confirm the claimed passage exists.
Is checking the first search result enough?
No. Search ranking is not proof. Prefer primary sources and compare independent evidence, especially when definitions or dates may differ.