Day 20 / 30
Week 3
Day 20: Checking AI's answers
Today's idea
If you ask an AI the same important question in two different ways and it gives two different answers, what should you take from that? (tap to see)
That's a warning sign. However confident the AI sounds, two different answers mean you should check the matter with another reliable source.
Imagine you hear a rumour in your neighbourhood. Do you believe it right away? Probably not. You might ask someone else, or ask, "How do you know that?" Sometimes you ask the question another way to see if the answer stays the same. These very same habits work with AI's answers too.
Habit one: when something matters, check it against another reliable source, such as an official website, a book or an expert. Habit two: ask the AI how it got the answer. Hearing the explanation often exposes the mistake by itself. Habit three: ask the same question again, worded differently, and compare the two answers. And most important of all: for medicine, law, money and up-to-date news, no matter how confident the AI sounds, always take extra care.
Once these habits stick, using AI feels a lot more relaxed — because now you're not just believing, you're checking too.
Try it yourself Time: 3 minutes
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Explain step by step exactly how you got this answer.
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Do it together Time: 5 minutes
With anyone — a child, a parent, a friend or a colleague.
With the person you're with, ask the AI one question worded in two different ways. Put the two answers side by side and talk about them together — is there any difference, and if so, how would you check it?
Today's key point
However confident the AI sounds, the smart move on anything important is to ask another way or check with another source.
Check yourself
Two quick questions from today's lesson.
1. What is one good way to check an AI's answer?
2. On what kind of topic does an AI's answer always need extra care?
Today's lesson is complete. Keep it up.
Go to the next day — Day 21 →