AI tools can sound very sure of themselves and still be wrong. They predict likely text, so they can produce wrong facts, invented quotes and even sources that do not exist. This 6-step checklist helps you catch mistakes before you share or use an answer.
Step 1: Mark what can be checked
Go through the answer and mark anything that is a fact you can verify: names, numbers, dates, quotes, links, laws and health or money claims. Opinions and general advice need less checking than exact statements.
Step 2: Search the exact claim
Search for the specific claim on a trusted source, such as an official website, a textbook or an established news outlet. If you cannot find it anywhere, treat it as unconfirmed.
Step 3: Open every source it gives you
AI can invent book titles, articles and links. Open each source and confirm that it exists and that it really says what the AI claims. Never cite something you have not opened yourself.
Step 4: Use a second source
For anything important, find at least two independent sources that agree. One website repeating another does not count as two.
Step 5: Ask the AI to show its doubts
List the claims in your answer that you are least sure about, and tell me what I should verify.
This will not catch everything, but it points you to the weakest parts.
Step 6: Check whether it is out of date
AI tools may not know about recent changes. Ask:
Is any of this information likely to be out of date? What should I double-check?
Red flags
- Very exact statistics with no source.
- Quotes attributed to a named person.
- Studies or books that you cannot find online.
- Links that do not open.
- An answer that changes when you ask the same question again.
High-stakes topics
For health, law, money or safety, use AI only to understand the basics. Confirm the details with a qualified professional.
Prompts that reduce mistakes
Answer only from the text I provide. If the answer is not in the text, say you do not know.
If you are not sure, say so instead of guessing.
Next steps
Better prompts lead to fewer errors. Try our free Prompt Builder and read 5 Common AI Prompt Mistakes and How to Fix Them. If you summarize documents with AI, see How to Summarize a Long Document with AI.
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