AI tools are fluent, not necessarily accurate. They generate the most statistically likely next words, which produces smooth, confident prose regardless of whether the underlying facts are true. That means the writer publishing AI-assisted content — not the tool — is responsible for verifying everything before it goes out.
Treat every specific claim as unverified by default
Names, dates, numbers, quotes, and statistics are the highest-risk parts of any AI-generated draft, because a model can produce a plausible-sounding figure or citation that doesn't actually exist. Before publishing, go through the draft and highlight every number, name, and claim of fact, then check each one against a source you trust independently of the AI tool that generated it. If you can't verify a claim, cut it or rewrite it as a general statement instead of a specific one.
Watch for confident-sounding vagueness
AI drafts often produce sentences that sound authoritative but say very little — "many experts agree" or "studies have shown" without naming which experts or which studies. Treat unattributed authority claims as a red flag. Either find and cite the actual source, or remove the claim entirely; don't let vague confidence stand in for evidence.
Check for invented sources and broken logic
Ask the tool, or check yourself, whether any cited source actually exists and says what the draft claims it says. Separately, reread the argument for logical gaps — AI text can transition smoothly between two ideas that don't actually follow from each other, and the smoothness of the prose can disguise a weak or missing argument.
- Independently verify every name, date, number, and quote.
- Remove or rewrite any unattributed "experts say" or "studies show" claim.
- Confirm cited sources exist and actually support the claim made.
- Reread for logical gaps that fluent prose can paper over.
Fact-checking AI content takes real time — often as long as writing the piece yourself would have. Budget for that time rather than treating it as optional polish.
