Lesson 190 · 3 min
Getting reports with sources from agents
Research agents can read dozens of pages and write a report, and the sources they cite are what let you trust it, so always ask for them and spot-check them.
Deep research modes in many assistants work like an agent: they search, open many pages, take notes and write a structured report with links. A job that used to take an afternoon can take minutes.
The report is only as good as its sources. Ask for a link next to every important claim, the date of each source, and a short list of sources it decided not to trust. Prefer official sites, research papers and established news over forums and ads.
Then spot-check. Open three of the links, especially behind the most surprising claims, and see whether the page really says what the report says. Agents sometimes cite a real page that says something different, or mix up two figures.
Ask it to separate facts from its own conclusions, and to say where sources disagree. A good report shows its uncertainty. For decisions about money, health or law, treat the report as a starting point for a professional.
Do it now
Request and check a sourced report
- 1. Pick a question you care about, like comparing two phone plans or a health habit.
- 2. Use the prompt below in a research or deep research mode.
- 3. Open three cited links and mark each claim as confirmed, different or not found.
Research [QUESTION]. Write a short report with a source link and date next to each important claim. Separate facts from your conclusions. List where sources disagree and which sources you chose not to use and why. Keep it under 500 words.
Quick check
Keep going
Next →Excel formulas with AIWords from this lesson
- Deep research
- A chatbot mode that searches many web pages over several minutes and writes a longer report with sources.
- Agent
- An AI system that takes several steps on its own, such as searching, clicking or using apps, to finish a goal you set.
- Grounding
- Tying an AI's answer to real sources you supply or it looks up, so claims can be checked instead of invented.
- Hallucination
- When an AI states something false with confidence, such as a made-up fact, quote or source.