Grounding: What It Is, No Jargon
Grounding means giving the AI specific text to work from. Think of it like giving a student a textbook and telling them to only answer questions using that book. They cannot use their own knowledge or ideas.
When an AI is grounded, it processes your request using only the provided information. It does not pull facts from its general training data. This greatly reduces the chance of the AI inventing details or concepts.
Today, you can ground an AI by pasting text directly into its prompt. You can also use tools like LocalBridge to send full browser tab content. Give the AI the exact source material you want it to use.
Why Source Text Beats Model Memory
AI models have vast amounts of information from their training. However, they do not 'remember' sources perfectly. They predict the next most likely word based on patterns they learned. This can lead to convincing but incorrect statements.
Using your own source text forces the AI to process facts you provide. It acts as a strict reference. This is more reliable than hoping its internal 'memory' retrieves the correct details.
To apply this today, always provide key data points or relevant document sections within your prompt. Ask the AI to summarize or extract from *that specific text*, not its general knowledge.
Asking for a Quote and a Source Number
A simple way to verify AI output is to demand direct evidence. Instruct the AI to include exact quotes from the text you provided. Tell it to cite the page number or section if your source has them.
This makes the AI's job harder if it tries to invent facts. It will struggle to produce a non-existent quote or source reference. If it cannot find a quote, it might admit it.
When prompting, say: 'For every factual claim, provide an exact quote from the document and its corresponding page number.' If your source is a webpage, ask for the specific paragraph or heading the information came from.
The One Check That Catches Most Invented Claims
The most effective check for AI-invented claims is the 'show me where it says that' test. After the AI gives an answer, specifically ask it to point out the information in your source material.
If the AI struggles to find the information or provides a vague answer, it is a strong signal that the claim might be fabricated. A well-grounded AI will easily show you the exact passage.
As a next step right now, take any potentially questionable AI statement. Go back to your original source document. Scan for keywords from the AI's statement. If you cannot find it quickly, the AI likely made it up.