Check Before You Trust It

Step 1 of 6

Where we are

Now let's check the answer before you trust it.

You already learned how to ask in a clear way. The last step is to read the answer with care.

AI can sound very sure and still be wrong. A quick look takes ten seconds and saves you real trouble.

Every time, you check just three small things:

Matchdid it answer the thing you actually asked?

Missingdid it leave out one part you needed?

Made-updid it add a name, time, or number you never gave it?

AI is never the last word on big stuff. For health, money, legal, account, or safety choices, ask a real person you trust.

Buddy says

A nice answer feels good to read. A true answer holds up when you check it. We want both.

The one little check

Read the answer, then ask three small things.

Put your ask and the answer next to each other. Read them slowly, one at a time.

Ask yourself: Does it match my ask? Is anything missing? Did it make anything up?

If one thing is off, you do not start over. You just ask for one small fix.

Watch most of all for made-up facts. A made-up fact is any name, number, date, place, or price that you did not give it.

When a serious fact is in doubt, check it with a real source or a real person before you act on it.

Buddy says

You do not need to fix everything. Pick the one biggest problem and fix just that.

See it work

Watch a quick check catch a problem.

A quick, vague try

is this answer good?

Add the who, what & how

A clear request

Check this answer against my ask. Tell me if it matches, partly matches, or missed. Then give me one sentence to fix it. My ask: Give me 3 dinner ideas using eggs and rice. AI answer: Here is a long shopping list for a full week.

What the AI sends back

It partly matches. It is about food, but it missed your 3 dinner ideas using eggs and rice. To fix it, say: List 3 simple dinners that use only eggs and rice.

See how ChatGPT first labeled the answer, then handed you one short line to fix it? That is the whole check, start to finish.

Warm up

Which answer actually matches the ask?

You've seen how to check match, tap the one that answers what was asked.

You did it

You can check an AI answer on your own.

Read the answer, then check three things: does it match, is anything missing, did it make anything up?
Fix one problem at a time. Ask for one small change, not a whole redo.
Then pick one: use it, fix it once more, or ask a real person. For health, money, legal, account, or safety, ask a real person.

Buddy says

You don't just take answers now. You check them. That is a real, careful skill. Proud of you!