How to check AI answers
You do not need to double-check everything AI says. You need three small habits that catch most of the mistakes that matter.
By The 30-Day AI Habit · Published 2026-10-04 · Updated 2026-10-05
Rule 1: Ask the two questions
You trust AI more than you should, not because you are gullible, but because it always sounds sure. Make it show its cards:
"How sure are you about that, out of ten? And what would make you wrong?"
The second half is the useful part. It pushes the AI to name the weak spots in its own answer.
Rule 2: Never let it do maths in its head
AI is brilliant with words but surprisingly shaky with numbers. For quotes, invoices, budgets and conversions, ask it to calculate rather than guess:
"Show every step, and use a calculator or code for the numbers. Do not do the maths in your head."
Rule 3: Click the source
Ask for sources and you will get official-looking links. Open them. Find the line that supposedly supports the claim. This costs about thirty seconds and protects your credibility when you repeat a fact.
"Give me sources I can click, and quote the exact line from each one that supports your answer."
A fourth habit: argue against it
Chatbots tend to agree with you too easily. Before a real decision, ask: "Argue against this. Be blunt. What is the weakest part, and what would a sceptic say?" See also why ChatGPT agrees with everything you say.
Want to practise instead of just reading? Try The 30-Day AI Habit: 15 minutes a day, one rule and one small task each day.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I fact-check ChatGPT?
Ask how sure it is and what would make it wrong, open the sources it gives you and find the supporting line, and make it show the working for any numbers.
Is ChatGPT accurate with maths?
It can be shaky: it may quietly drop a digit. Ask it to show every step and use a calculator or code for the numbers.
Do I need to verify every AI answer?
No. Match the checking to the stakes. Anything involving money, health, legal matters or something you will repeat publicly deserves a check.
Keep reading
- How to spot AI hallucinations
- What not to paste into ChatGPT
- Why ChatGPT agrees with everything you say
- The 30-Day AI Habit: the full plan
- Is ChatGPT accurate? How much should you trust AI answers
- How to make ChatGPT sound like you
- How to use AI for email, meeting notes and summaries
- Does AI really save time? How to measure it honestly
- AI glossary: plain-English definitions
Ready to build the habit? The 30-Day AI Habit is a 15-minute-a-day course with one rule and one small task each day. Open the course