AI Answer Verification Checklist

This checklist is vendor-neutral: the same verification process works with ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, Claude, search-based AI tools, document-grounded assistants, internal AI systems and AI writing tools.

Step 1: Classify the task

• Brainstorming or creative draft
• Internal low-risk content
• Customer-facing communication
• Marketing or public claim
• Financial information
• Legal or regulatory information
• HR or employment information
• Health and safety information
• Cyber-security or technical change
• Significant business decision

The higher the potential impact, the stronger the verification and approval required.

Step 2: Check the request

• The objective was clear.
• The audience was specified.
• The date or time period was specified.
• The country or jurisdiction was specified.
• Relevant documents were supplied.
• Permitted sources were stated.
• The AI was told not to guess.
• Missing information was acknowledged.
• Assumptions were identified.

Step 3: Separate the output

Mark each important item in the response as one of the following:

• Verified fact
• Sourced claim
• Assumption
• Suggestion
• Calculation
• Quotation
• Unresolved question
• Professional judgement required

Then record each claim in a verification table:

Step 4: Check every important source

• The source exists.
• The link opens.
• The publisher is identifiable.
• The publication date is suitable.
• The source applies to the UK or relevant jurisdiction.
• The original passage supports the claim.
• The surrounding context has been read.
• A newer source has not replaced it.
• The source is authoritative for the subject.
• The source is not merely another AI-generated page.

Step 5: Check numbers and quotations

• Recalculate important figures independently.
• Confirm units and currencies.
• Check dates and time periods.
• Locate the original quotation.
• Confirm the named speaker or author.
• Check that the wording has not been altered materially.
• Confirm the statistic’s original dataset.
• Check whether percentages describe the correct population.

Step 6: Challenge the answer

• What evidence would disprove this?
• What important information is missing?
• Are there alternative explanations?
• Does the answer rely on a false assumption?
• Is the language more certain than the evidence?
• Are there exceptions?
• Does another authoritative source disagree?
• Could the information be out of date?

Step 7: Obtain the right approval

• Content owner identified.
• Technical review completed where required.
• Legal or compliance review completed where required.
• Financial figures approved.
• Customer information checked.
• Confidential information removed.
• Final human approver recorded.
• Corrections process understood.

Step 8: Retain evidence where appropriate

• Original prompt retained.
• Source documents retained.
• AI draft retained.
• Verification table retained.
• Important edits recorded.
• Approver recorded.
• Final version retained.
• Review or expiry date set for time-sensitive material.

Quick decision panel