Prompting · Sources
How to get AI answers with sources you can actually check¶
An AI answer without sources is an opinion with good posture. If you'll act on the answer, you need links you can click — and a habit of clicking them.
Ask for sources up front¶
Add these lines to any question that matters:
Add this to your prompt
Cite a source for every important claim, with a link I can open.
Separate facts from your own reasoning. If you can't find a
source, say "no source found" — never invent one.
That last rule matters most. AI can make up convincing sources, so you have to ban it out loud.
Check what comes back¶
- Click the two or three sources behind anything you'll act on.
- Does the page actually say what the AI claims? Skim for it.
- Is it the original source, or a site quoting someone else?
- Is the date recent enough for your question?
- Broken link or "no source found"? Treat that claim as unverified.
Red flags¶
- Sources that don't open. A dead link isn't a source.
- Real site, wrong page. The link works but doesn't mention the claim.
- Everything from one place. One source is a starting point, not an answer.
- No dates anywhere. "Currently" without a date is a guess.
Make it automatic¶
This whole habit is packaged as the research playbook: it interviews you, researches your question, shows sources, and ends with the same checks. There's a finished example so you can see the payoff first.
You're done when¶
Another person could take your answer and click their way to the evidence — without asking you to explain anything.