Choose one claim
You do not need to check an entire internet-sized answer at once. Circle the sentence that would change what you do. A claim about an opening time, a product feature, or a deadline deserves more attention than a suggestion for a silly story.
Separate mixed claims. “This tool is free and works offline on every computer” contains at least three questions: which features cost money, which operations need a connection, and which machines are supported.
Ask for evidence you can inspect
Prompt to try: “For the claim below, separate what is directly supported from what you inferred. Give the original publisher's page and the relevant section if you can actually access it. If you cannot verify the claim, say so. Do not invent a link. Claim: [paste one non-sensitive sentence].”
The reply is a lead for your own check. A real-looking address, a quotation, or an assistant saying “verified” is not enough by itself. Open the page using a trusted route and read the relevant passage.
Compare like with like
Check the organization, exact product, date, plan, and location. Instructions for an API may not describe a chat subscription. An announcement that a feature is coming may not establish that your account has it today.
Read a little before and after the cited passage. Does it support the entire claim, only part of it, or something different? Mark your result as supported, contradicted, or still unresolved.
Try a tiny source check here
Fictional source: “The community room opens at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Members may book tables. Booking prices will be announced later.” Fictional AI answer: “Everyone can book a free table from 10 a.m.”
Our editorial check: the opening time is supported for Saturday. “Everyone,” “free,” and the implied booking start time are not established by the notice. A corrected summary should retain the membership condition and leave prices unknown. Neither passage is a recorded model response.
Know when to stop
If the source cannot be reached or the needed detail is missing, keep it unresolved. For opening times, use the venue's current official information or contact it through a known channel. For a calculation, check the inputs and use a calculator.
A second chatbot may repeat the same mistake. Agreement can help identify a question to investigate, but it cannot replace evidence. For medical, legal, or financial decisions, take the question to an appropriate qualified professional and current authoritative information.