A simple fact-checking routine for AI answers
Check claims, sources and calculations before turning a convincing response into a decision.
Treat confidence as a writing style
A fluent answer can still contain an incorrect detail, an unsupported inference or an invented reference. Your review should focus on evidence rather than how certain the response sounds.
Separate the claims
Highlight names, dates, amounts, quotations and statements about rules. Mark which claims could change over time and which would materially affect your decision. Check those first.
Open the original source
Ask for links, then open them yourself. Check the publisher, date and the passage supporting the claim. A real link does not guarantee that it supports the answer. For important rules or technical details, work from the relevant official publication.
Recalculate the numbers
Rebuild totals and percentages in a spreadsheet or calculator. Confirm units, periods, denominators and rounding. If the source data are incomplete, record the missing inputs rather than treating a plausible estimate as a verified figure.
Use a review prompt
Review your answer. List the claims that require external verification, distinguish facts from assumptions, and show the inputs behind every calculation. Mark anything you cannot substantiate. This helps organise your review; it does not replace independent checking.
Keep a small evidence trail
For work you will share, retain the source, the access date and your own conclusion. If a claim cannot be verified, remove it or clearly describe its uncertainty. Use qualified professional review where the decision requires it.