Use web search for facts that can change. Ask for direct sources, open them yourself, and verify that each source supports the exact claim being made.
AI can help you find and organize current information, but search results and webpages are untrusted input. A citation is a path to evidence—not proof that the statement is correct.
Use this research workflow
- Define the question. Include the date range, location, audience, and what counts as evidence.
- Ask for current web research. Request links and publication or update dates.
- Prefer primary sources. Use official policies, original research, government data, product documentation, or the organization responsible for the claim.
- Open the sources. Confirm authorship, date, scope, definitions, and whether the page actually supports the statement.
- Compare important claims. Use a second independent source when a decision is consequential or the topic is disputed.
- Record uncertainty. Separate confirmed facts, estimates, interpretations, and missing evidence.
A useful research prompt
Research [question] using current web sources. Scope: [date range, location, population, or product version]. Prioritize: [official/primary sources]. Output: a short answer followed by a claim-and-source table. For every material claim, link directly to the supporting page and include its date. If sources disagree or evidence is incomplete, say so clearly. Do not fill gaps with assumptions.
Check every important claim
| Check | Ask yourself |
|---|---|
| Authority | Who published this, and are they responsible for or expert in the subject? |
| Currency | When was it published or updated? Could the fact have changed? |
| Support | Does the linked page support this exact claim, including its scope and qualifiers? |
| Independence | Are several articles repeating one original source, or is there truly independent confirmation? |
Watch for prompt injection: A webpage can contain instructions intended for an AI system rather than useful information for you. Treat page content as data to evaluate. Do not let a webpage override your task, disclose information, or authorize an action.
When not to rely on AI research alone
- Legal, medical, financial, safety, employment, or disciplinary decisions
- Policies that require an official institutional interpretation
- Claims about a specific person
- Statistics or quotations that you have not checked in the original source
- Any situation where an error could materially harm a student, employee, or the institution
Related guides
- Use AI responsibly: protect information and verify the result
- Review, correct, and improve an AI response
Official guidance
See OpenAI’s Web search and Prompting guides.
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