Fact-check an AI answer one claim at a time

Fact-check an AI answer by breaking it into claims you can test. A paragraph can mix a correct definition, an outdated price, and an unsupported causal claim. Checking one cited link for the paragraph does not verify all three.

Extract the important claims

Prioritize claims that change an action: dates, eligibility, prices, requirements, safety instructions, and quantitative comparisons. Definitions matter too, but a wrong deadline may carry a larger consequence than awkward wording. Write the exact sentence before researching it so you do not quietly change the claim while checking.

Use a claim ledger

The examples are fictional. “Not found” is a search result about your checking process, not proof that a feature does not exist. Keep that distinction in the final edit.

Use AI to identify work still needed

Extract factual claims from this answer.
For each, say what kind of evidence would establish it.
Compare only against the sources I supply.
Label supported, contradicted, partially supported, or unresolved,
with the exact supporting passage and location.
Do not use the answer's confidence as evidence.
Answer: [paste]
Sources checked: [paste]

Verify sources outside the answer

A fabricated or irrelevant citation can look legitimate. Open the original page, find the passage, and check its date and scope. For a legal, medical, or financial decision, use the responsible authority or a qualified professional rather than relying on a general search summary.

Correct the sentence at the same level of precision the evidence supports. If a broad claim becomes conditional, preserve the condition near it. Keep an unresolved label when you cannot verify something; removing the label because the draft reads better defeats the check. A clear “we could not establish this” is often more useful than a plausible replacement.