How to check sources in an AI answer before sharing it

A practical routine for checking links, numbers and dates in Gemini and other assistants, with a worked example.

An answer can sound convincing and link to a real document without that document supporting the exact claim. Before using it in a report, an email or a public post, separate the statements you need to verify.

Start with one specific claim

Imagine an assistant says: “The company will open the service to all users in November.” This is a fictional practice example, not a news report. It contains at least four things to check: the company, the service, the eligible users and the date.

Open the link and check the document’s domain and title.
Find the passage about the launch.
Check whether it says everyone or only a limited group.
Distinguish a confirmed date from an expectation.
Check the source date and look for a later update.

What an assistant’s links can tell you

Gemini’s help explains related sources; finding a relevant link does not establish that every statement is verified. Google also says Gemini Notebook may reference a very short source as a whole document rather than cite an individual passage.

A reusable review table

Claim	Passage found	Decision
Available to everyone	The document describes a limited trial	Correct the scope
November launch	Only an expectation appears	Attribute it as a forecast

If you cannot find support

Do not fill the gap with an assumption. Remove the detail, find another primary source or state precisely what remains unconfirmed. Asking the assistant to repeat the answer more confidently does not replace verification.

For shared work, record the link, the date you checked it and the passage supporting each important fact. A colleague can then review the reasoning without repeating the entire search. The goal is a traceable answer, not merely an answer with many links.

Sources consulted

Menus and features can change. Check the linked documentation for their current status.