You already know that AI tools can make things up. They can state a false fact in a calm, sure voice. So when a claim matters, you need a way to check it. This lesson gives you a simple routine.
Go to the source
A primary source is the original place a piece of information comes from. For a new law, that's the government's own website. For a study, it's the paper itself. For a company's return policy, it's the company's own page.
A chatbot is not a primary source. It's retelling what it learned, and it can mix things up. When a fact matters, find where it really comes from and read it there.
Ask where it came from
A good first step is to ask the chatbot, "Where does this come from?" or "What source supports that?" Some tools can search the web and show links. Others answer only from what they learned in training.
Either way, the answer is a lead, not proof. AI tools sometimes give sources that don't exist, or real sources that don't say what the tool claims. That leads to the next step.
Open the links
If a chatbot gives you a link, click it. Then check three things:
- Does the page exist and load?
- Is it from a source you trust, like an official site or a well-known publisher?
- Does it actually say what the chatbot said it does?
This last point catches a lot of problems. The page might be real but about something a little different. Or it might say the opposite. Skim for the specific claim, not just the topic.
Slow down for the risky stuff
Some kinds of information need extra care.
Numbers. Prices, dates, percentages, and statistics often look exact even when they're wrong. Check each one you plan to use.
Quotes. If a chatbot says a person said something, find the quote in a real source before you repeat it. Made-up quotes are a known problem.
Legal and medical information. Mistakes here can cost money or harm health. Rules also vary by place and change over time. Use AI to learn the basics and form good questions. Then check with an official source or a professional before you act.
If you can't find a reliable source for a claim, don't use it. Saying "I couldn't confirm this" is better than passing on something false.
Try it
Ask a chatbot a factual question you're curious about and ask for its sources. Open each link it gives you. For each one, note whether it exists and whether it says what the chatbot claimed.