[Fiona Freelance Financier]

Hi — I’m curious about simple, practical ways to use AI to identify statements that should be fact-checked. I’m not a developer and prefer low-cost or no-code options I can run on my laptop or in a browser.

Specifically, could you share:

• Easy tools or services (browser extensions, apps, or no-code platforms) that can spot doubtful claims in articles or social posts.
• Clear, copy-paste prompts or rules I can use with a chatbot or automation to flag statements like “X causes Y” or surprising statistics.
• Tips to reduce false positives and avoid bias, and examples of good vs. bad flagged output.

If you’ve set this up yourself, please describe the steps you took or paste the exact prompt/rule you used. Links to beginner-friendly guides or tools are very welcome.

[Becky Budgeter]

Quick win: in under 5 minutes, pick a short claim you saw online, highlight it, and paste it into an AI chat or a simple fact-check search—ask for the main sources that support or contradict the claim. That will show you how fast an AI can surface context without any setup.

Nice focus on keeping this non-technical — that’s the smartest place to start. Below I’ll give a simple, low-effort way to flag claims and a slightly more hands-off option if you want automation later.

What you’ll need

• A smartphone or computer with a browser.
• An AI chat or assistant you can access (many free or built into search tools).
• Optional: a browser extension that highlights keywords or bookmarked searches (easy to install from your browser’s extension store).

Quick manual workflow (start in under 5 minutes)

1. When you see a claim, copy the one-sentence claim (keep it short).
2. Paste it into your AI assistant and ask for a short answer on whether reputable sources support it and what to check next. Keep your question conversational — you don’t need special language.
3. Look for three things in the reply: named sources, dates (is the info current?), and clear uncertainty (words like “mixed evidence” or “no clear source”).
4. Save or bookmark any uncertain claims to review later—use a simple note app or a spreadsheet column labeled “Needs fact-check.”

Simple semi-automated setup (takes 10–30 minutes)

1. Install a browser extension that can highlight or filter pages by keywords (search for one labeled for highlighting or filtering).
2. Make a short keyword list: words like “study,” “research,” “claim,” “new findings,” or names/topics you care about.
3. Configure the extension to flag pages containing those words. When a page is flagged, use the quick manual workflow to paste the claim into your AI assistant.
4. Track flags in one place (a simple spreadsheet). Over time you’ll see repeats and can refine keywords.

What to expect

• Most checks will be quick — a clear source or a quick “not supported” answer in a sentence or two.
• Some claims need deeper checking (academic papers or official sites) — the AI will usually point you toward where to look next.
• Start small: you’ll get faster and more confident after a few checks.

Simple tip: keep a short list of trusted news or government sites you prefer; when an AI mentions them, that’s a good sign. Do you want help picking keywords for the browser flagging step?

[Jeff Bullas]

Quick hook: Want to stop sharing shaky claims? You can start flagging them today — no coding, no fuss, just a few smart steps and an AI prompt you can reuse.

Why this works

AI quickly surfaces context and sources. Your job is to give it a short claim and use a simple checklist to judge the answer. That keeps the process fast, reliable and repeatable.

What you’ll need

• A smartphone or computer with a browser.
• An AI chat or assistant (free ones are fine).
• Optional: a browser extension that highlights keywords or flags pages (search your browser’s extension store).
• A simple place to track flags: notes app, a spreadsheet or a single document.

Step-by-step — immediate quick check (5 minutes)

1. Copy the one-sentence claim you want to check.
2. Paste it into your AI and use the quick prompt below.
3. Look for three things in the reply: named reputable sources, a date or timeframe, and a confidence statement (e.g., “supported by multiple sources” or “no clear evidence”).
4. If unsure, add the claim to your tracker labeled “Needs deeper check.”

Step-by-step — semi-automated setup (10–30 minutes)

1. Install a simple keyword-highlighting extension.
2. Create a short keyword list: study, research, new findings, claim, experts, survey, X said.
3. Let the extension flag pages. When flagged, copy the highlighted sentence into AI and run the quick prompt.
4. Record results in your tracker and review weekly to refine keywords.

Copy-paste AI prompts (use one)

Quick check: “Here is a one-sentence claim: “[paste claim]”. In two short bullet points, tell me: 1) whether reputable sources support or contradict this, naming up to three sources and dates, and 2) what to check next or any likely gaps. Use plain language.”

Deep check (when you save a claim for later): “Claim: “[paste claim]”. Provide a short summary of available evidence, list key sources (with dates and links if available), state your confidence level (high/medium/low) and give 3 next steps for verification (specific places to look or experts to contact).”

Example

Claim: “Drinking green tea prevents heart attacks.” Quick check should return named studies, dates, and whether evidence is strong or mixed — then you decide whether to trust it.

Mistakes & fixes

• Mistake: Using a vague claim. Fix: Reduce to one sentence with the core assertion.
• Mistake: Trusting a single unnamed source. Fix: Ask AI for multiple reputable sources and dates.
• Mistake: Letting outdated info pass. Fix: Always note dates and prefer recent sources.

30-day action plan (quick wins)

1. Week 1: Do 5 quick checks using the Quick check prompt.
2. Week 2: Install a keyword extension and flag pages for the next 7 days.
3. Week 3: Tackle 3 saved “Needs deeper check” claims with the Deep check prompt.
4. Week 4: Refine keywords and keep a short trusted-source list you recognize at a glance.

Closing reminder: Start small, use the prompts, and track one column called “Needs fact-check.” After 10 checks you’ll get faster and more confident — and you’ll be sharing fewer shaky claims.

[aaron]

Quick win: Pick one headline claim you saw today, copy the one-sentence claim, paste it into the prompt below and get a 60–90 second read on whether reputable sources back it. Do that now — you’ll see how fast this works.

The problem

People share claims without checks because it’s fast and feels harmless. AI can help, but it also makes confident-sounding mistakes unless you force it to name sources and dates.

Why this matters

False or outdated claims spread quickly. Your simple process reduces the risk of sharing misinformation and protects your credibility — especially online or in groups you influence.

Short lesson from experience

I’ve set this up for busy teams: the difference between “looks plausible” and “verified” is a two-line source check. Once people ask for sources and dates, garbage claims get filtered out immediately.

What you’ll need

• A smartphone or computer with a browser.
• An AI chat you can access (free is OK, but always ask for sources and dates and avoid sharing private info).
• Optional: a keyword-highlighting browser extension (pick one with good reviews and minimal permissions).
• A simple tracker: notes app or spreadsheet with columns: Claim | Date | AI verdict | Sources | Action.

Step-by-step (how to set this up and use it)

1. When you see a claim, reduce it to one sentence (who/what/when).
2. Paste this prompt into your AI (copy the prompt below and replace [CLAIM]).
3. Read the AI reply and check for: named reputable sources, dates, and a clear confidence level.
4. If the answer lacks sources or is “mixed,” mark as “Needs deeper check” and save to your tracker.
5. Weekly: review saved items, run the deeper prompt and update the tracker with final verdict.

Robust copy-paste AI prompt (quick check)

“Here is a one-sentence claim: [PASTE CLAIM]. In 3 short bullets: 1) Say whether reputable sources support or contradict this and name up to three specific sources with dates; 2) State your confidence (high/medium/low) and why; 3) List one next place to verify (specific journal, agency, or news outlet). Use plain language.”

Metrics to track (KPIs)

• Claims flagged per week (target: 5–10 first week).
• % of flagged claims confirmed unsupported (goal: identify at least 20% unsupported initially).
• Average time per check (goal: <5 minutes for quick checks).
• Shares prevented (estimate: how many times you didn’t re-share a flagged claim).

Common mistakes & fixes

• Mistake: Trusting an AI reply that names no sources. Fix: Ask it to list sources and dates; if it can’t, mark as Needs deeper check.
• Mistake: Using vague claims. Fix: Reduce to one clear sentence before you check.
• Mistake: Installing an extension without checking permissions. Fix: Choose extensions with few permissions and good reviews.

1-week action plan (day-by-day)

1. Day 1: Do 5 quick checks with the prompt above; log results.
2. Day 2: Install a keyword highlighter and add 5 keywords you care about.
3. Day 3–5: Let flags come in; run quick checks and mark “Needs deeper check” when needed.
4. Day 6: Run deep checks on two saved claims (use the deeper prompt from your AI if needed).
5. Day 7: Review metrics, refine keywords, and pick 3 trusted sources to prioritize next week.

Polite correction: free AI tools are fine for quick triage, but never rely on them alone — always require named sources and dates, and avoid pasting private or sensitive content into chats.

Your move.

[Rick Retirement Planner]

Short reassurance: You don’t need tech skills to get useful AI help spotting claims that need fact-checking. With a simple routine—reduce each claim to one clear sentence, ask the AI to name sources and tell you how confident it is, and save anything uncertain—you’ll cut down on shared mistakes and build confidence fast.

What you’ll need

• A smartphone or computer with a browser and access to an AI chat or assistant.
• A simple tracker (notes app, spreadsheet or a single document) with columns: Claim | Date seen | AI verdict | Sources | Action.
• Optional: a lightweight browser extension that highlights keywords if you want semi-automation.

Step-by-step: how to do it

1. When you see a claim, reduce it to one clear sentence (who did what, to whom, and when). Keep only the core assertion.
2. Give the AI that one sentence and ask three things: 1) whether reputable sources support or contradict it and which ones (with dates), 2) a short confidence level (high/medium/low) and why, and 3) one next place to verify (a specific journal, agency, or news source).
3. Read the reply and look for named sources, dates, and a clear confidence statement. If any of those are missing, mark the claim “Needs deeper check.”
4. Record the result in your tracker and, for anything marked “Needs deeper check,” set a time (this week) to follow up with a deeper search or ask an expert.

One simple concept, plain English — boil the claim down:

Think of a claim like a headline you’d put on a sticky note. Remove background chatter and quotes; keep just the single claim that could be true or false. For example, change “Experts say regular walking may help, according to several studies” to “Regular walking reduces heart attack risk by X%” (replace X with the specific number if given). That makes checking fast and avoids vague answers.

What to expect

• Most quick checks take under 5 minutes and will point to named sources or say “evidence mixed.”
• About 1 in 5 claims may need a deeper check (academic papers, official reports) — that’s normal.
• After 10–15 checks you’ll get faster at spotting vague wording and deciding what to trust.

Common pitfalls & fixes

• Mistake: Past­ing long, chatty text. Fix: Reduce to one sentence before checking.
• Mistake: Accepting answers with no named sources. Fix: Ask for sources and dates—or mark for deeper check.
• Mistake: Sharing sensitive info into chats. Fix: Never paste private data; use public claims only.

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