{"id":"search-mkt-followups-verify-stats","audience":"marketing","category":"ai-search","track":"research","technique":"verification","title":"Write follow-up questions that verify an AI's stats","free":false,"task":"An AI search tool gave you 4 stats for a launch blog post about refillable packaging, and you need to check them before anything goes live. Write exactly 4 numbered follow-up questions to send back to the tool, one per stat in order, each asking for something you can check (the original publisher, the exact quote, the survey date or the sample size), never a yes/no question. The question about stat 3 must point out its source is from 2017. Plain text, under 110 words.","materialLabel":"The AI search answer (attached to your prompt automatically)","material":"AI SEARCH ANSWER\nPrompt: \"stats on consumer demand for refillable packaging\"\n\nHere are some powerful stats for your post:\n\n1. 68% of shoppers say they would switch brands for refillable packaging. (Source: GreenCart Consumer Pulse)\n\n2. Refill sales grew 3x faster than single-use sales last year. (Source: industry reports)\n\n3. 7 in 10 Gen Z buyers will pay more for sustainable packaging. (Source: Brightwave Insights, 2017)\n\n4. Refillable packaging cuts plastic waste by up to 80%. (Source: Loop Studies)\n\nThese figures show strong and growing demand, making refillable packaging a smart bet for 2026.\n\n---\nOur draft headline: \"Most shoppers now choose refills\"\nLaunch date: Dec 1\nLegal wants every stat to have a named, dated source.","rules":[{"type":"numberedItems","count":4},{"type":"maxWords","max":110},{"type":"plainText"}],"mistakes":[{"title":"Asking \"are these true?\"","why":"The AI just says \"yes, these come from reputable sources\" and you've checked nothing.","fix":"Say: \"Each question asks for the publisher, exact quote, date or sample size.\"","checks":["r1"]},{"title":"One question for everything","why":"The AI writes a single broad question, so vague sources like \"industry reports\" slip through.","fix":"Add: \"One question per stat, in order.\"","checks":["r0","numberedItems"]},{"title":"Missing the old source","why":"The AI doesn't notice a 2017 survey is being used for a 2026 claim.","fix":"Add: \"Point out that stat 3's source is from 2017.\"","checks":["r2"]},{"title":"Trusting the AI to count words","why":"AI is bad at counting. Ask for a total word limit and it often lands over it.","fix":"Cap each question: \"each under 25 words.\"","checks":["maxWords"]},{"title":"Getting markdown back","why":"AI bolds stat names, which you'd have to clean up before pasting into the tool.","fix":"Ask for \"plain text, no bold.\"","checks":["plainText"]}],"promptHints":[{"label":"Asks for follow-up questions","patterns":["follow.?up","questions? to (ask|send)","ask the tool"]},{"label":"One per stat","patterns":["one per stat","each stat","\\b(4|four)\\b.{0,20}question"]},{"label":"Asks for checkable details","patterns":["publisher","exact quote","sample size","survey date"]},{"label":"Flags the 2017 source","patterns":["2017","old source","outdated"]},{"label":"Bans yes/no questions","patterns":["yes.?or.?no","yes/no","open"]}],"hint":"\"Are you sure?\" gets you \"yes.\" Ask for questions that make the tool hand over something you can check.","rubricLabels":["There are 4 questions, one per stat in the same order (68% switch, 3x sales growth, 7 in 10 Gen Z, 80% waste cut)","Each question asks for something specific and checkable (original publisher, exact quote, survey date, or sample size), and none can be answered with just yes or no (for example none starts with Is, Are, Does or Can)","The question about stat 3 points out that the Brightwave source is from 2017 (and asks for a newer source or whether it still holds)"]}