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Check an AI-written move notice against the real memo

Practice: Catching mistakes and made-up facts. About 5 minutes.

About this exercise

An AI tool drafted the office move announcement below. A coworker says it has 3 mistakes compared with the facilities memo, but not which ones. Before it goes to 60 people, get exactly 3 numbered lines, one per mistake, each saying what the draft says and what the memo says (or that the memo doesn't mention it). Put any deadline mistake first, since people act on deadlines. Plain text, under 60 words, no rewritten announcement and no intro.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Asking to "check this". The AI writes a long review with headings, extra notes and often a full rewrite you didn't ask for. Try: Be exact: "Exactly 3 numbered lines, one per mistake. Don't rewrite it."
  • Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for a total word limit and it often lands over it. Try: Set the shape instead: "Each line: Draft says X; memo says Y. Under 15 words."
  • Only hunting for contradictions. The AI checks facts that clash with the memo but can let an invented extra, like a free lunch, slide by. Try: Add: "Also flag anything in the draft the memo doesn't mention."
  • Not saying what matters most. The AI lists mistakes in the order they appear, so the deadline people must act on isn't first. Try: Add: "Put any deadline mistake first."
  • Forgetting the format. AI bolds labels and adds headings, which you then have to clean up. Try: Add: "Plain text, no bold or headings, no intro."

What a strong prompt includes

  • Uses the memo as the source
  • Catches invented details
  • Puts the deadline first
  • Says how many lines
  • Sets a word limit

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