Beginner · 7 min
How to Check an AI Answer
Verify names, dates, prices, links, and important claims before relying on AI.
Before you start
Separate an answer into claims you can verify. Confidence, a polished table, or a list of citations does not establish accuracy. A source must exist and support the particular claim.
Follow these steps
- 1
Identify the exact claim that could affect a decision.
- 2
Ask the AI to name its sources, but do not assume the sources are real.
- 3
Open an official or primary source in a separate browser tab.
- 4
Compare the name, date, number, quotation, and context.
- 5
Check a second reliable source when the issue is important or disputed.
- 6
Correct or discard the answer if the evidence does not support it.
Examples
Verify a government deadline on the agency’s official website.
Confirm a product price on the seller’s current product page.
Check a quotation in the original speech, transcript, or document.
Try it yourself
Choose one non-sensitive claim about a product feature. Open the manufacturer’s page and check the exact feature, device, date, and plan. Mark the claim verified, contradicted, or unresolved.
If you get stuck
If a cited link is broken, search the organization’s own site for the document title. If no reliable evidence appears, treat the claim as unresolved instead of repeating it as a fact.
Sources and further help
Expanded September 15, 2026. AI-assisted educational content. Interfaces may change; consult the official guide for your device.
Keep a useful prompt handy
The free AI Starter Kit includes four reusable prompts, a safety checklist, and a 15-minute practice plan.
Open the free Starter Kit →