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How to check an AI answer

Checklist · Checklists Free Checked: October 2026

Assess the risk, spot the signs of a made-up answer and run a 5-minute check before you act on what AI says.

What it is

AI can be confidently wrong, especially with numbers, links, quotes, recent events and laws. This is called a hallucination: the AI states something it made up as if it were fact. The checklist helps you decide how carefully to verify, and gives quick methods: ask the model to name its weak spots, open the sources, ask again in a new chat. Before you publish text for customers, add the "Check AI output before you publish" checklist.

  • Verification
  • Fact-checking
  • Beginner

Text to copy

Checklist
FIRST, ASSESS THE RISK
- [ ] What happens if the answer is wrong? Nothing serious (ideas, a draft): a careful read is enough. You could lose money, a customer or your health, or break the law: go through every item below
- [ ] Medicine, law, taxes, finance: an AI answer is only prep for a conversation with a licensed professional

SIGNS THE ANSWER MAY BE MADE UP
- [ ] Very precise numbers with no source
- [ ] Links, study titles, quotes, statute or case citations
- [ ] Recent events, prices, software versions: the model may not know the latest changes
- [ ] A smooth, confident answer on a contested topic
- [ ] The answer changes when you ask again

HOW TO CHECK IN 5 MINUTES
- [ ] Ask: "Which claims in your answer can you not back up? Where might you be wrong?"
- [ ] Ask for sources and open every link. If it doesn't open or says something else, the claim is unconfirmed
- [ ] Ask the same question in a new chat or in a different assistant. If the answers differ, look for the original source
- [ ] Recheck at least one number or one line of a calculation in a calculator or spreadsheet
- [ ] Prices and terms of services: only from the service's official website, as of today
- [ ] Laws and rules: on the official website of the relevant government agency (federal, state or local)

IS THE ANSWER ABOUT YOUR CASE?
- [ ] Your location (state or country), industry and the date are accounted for, or it's general advice
- [ ] The answer addresses your question, not a similar one
- [ ] You can explain the answer in your own words. If you can't, ask again before you act

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Checked: October 2026