Find Reliable Information with AI

Do you want to know if a fiber internet box is better than a 4G box, or which local tradesperson to choose? An AI can help, as long as you ask the right question and check its answer. Here is the method, step by step.

Ask a precise question

A vague question gets a vague answer. Give the place, the situation, and the timing.

Example request Can you explain the difference between fiber and a 4G box for a family of [number] people living in [city]? Give me the answers with sources.

The more precise your context, the more useful the answer. Say who you are, where you are, and what you want to do.

Ask for sources and open them

An AI that searches the web can cite its pages. Open them one by one. Check that the page really says what the AI claims.

Example request Can you give me the links to the pages you used to answer, with the website name and the date of each page?

If the AI cites no sources, do not rely on its answer for an important topic.

Check the date of the information

Information can be outdated. An AI without web search answers from what it learned, which may be old. Always look at the date of the source page, and ask the AI to tell you that date.

Example request Is this information still valid today? Tell me the date of the most recent source you found.

Compare several options in a table

To choose between two offers or two solutions, ask for a table. Comparison points are easier to read that way.

Example request Compare [option A] and [option B] in a table with these columns: [criterion 1], [criterion 2], [criterion 3]. Next to each point, tell me which source you used.

Also ask for opposing views. A single source can give a partial picture.

Example request What are the drawbacks of [option A]? Also give me the views of people who criticize it, with their sources.

Protect your personal data

The CNIL, France’s data protection authority, advises avoiding, as much as possible, entering personal data into a generative AI. Never share confidential information. Be especially careful with sensitive data, such as health or financial information. Replace personal details with [brackets].

Example request Help me write a letter to [name of organization]. My name is [your name], my address is [your address], and my file number is [number]. Keep these [brackets] in your answer.

To attach a document, use the file upload button, often a paperclip icon or a “+” sign near the input box. Read the document before you send it. Remove any personal information it contains.

Check important topics

For health, money, or legal matters, do not stop at the AI. Check an official website, such as your country’s government site, or ask a professional.

Example request What are the official steps for [your procedure]? Give me the link to the matching official page.

Good habits

• Open and check each source yourself.
• Check the date of the information before you use it.
• Always ask for sources and compare several points of view.
• Do not enter personal or confidential data. Use [brackets] instead.
• Reread every answer: an AI can make mistakes or invent a plausible-sounding answer.
• For important topics, confirm on an official website or with a professional.