Fact-Checking and Quality Control

AI can produce impressive content quickly, but without quality control, you risk publishing errors. Here's how to verify before you publish.

The Three-Layer Review Process

Layer 1: Automated Checks (Immediate)

Before detailed review, catch obvious issues:

Run basic checks:

Spell check and grammar
Brand name spelling (AI often misspells company names)
Link validity (if any were generated)
Formatting consistency

Quick sanity tests:

Do numbers add up?
Are dates logical (not in the future for past events)?
Do any claims seem extraordinary?

Layer 2: Fact Verification (Required)

For every piece of AI content, verify:

Content Type	Verification Method
Statistics	Find original source, check date
Quotes	Search for exact quote, confirm attribution
Company info	Check company website, press releases
Historical events	Cross-reference multiple sources
Product features	Verify against official documentation
Laws/regulations	Confirm with official government sources

Red flags that require extra scrutiny:

Specific percentages ("78% of businesses...")
Attributed quotes ("As Warren Buffett said...")
Detailed historical dates
Claims about competitors
Legal or compliance statements

Layer 3: Context and Tone Review (Human Judgment)

Questions to ask:

Does this sound like us (brand voice)?
Would our audience find this valuable?
Is anything potentially offensive or insensitive?
Does the tone match the situation?
Are there cultural considerations we missed?

Quick Verification Workflow

AI Output
    │
    ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────┐
│ 1. Scan for claims and facts    │
│    - List all verifiable items  │
└──────────────┬──────────────────┘
               ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────┐
│ 2. Verify each item             │
│    - Check sources              │
│    - Mark as ✓ or needs edit    │
└──────────────┬──────────────────┘
               ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────┐
│ 3. Fix or remove problems       │
│    - Correct errors             │
│    - Remove unverifiable claims │
└──────────────┬──────────────────┘
               ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────┐
│ 4. Final human review           │
│    - Tone, voice, judgment      │
└──────────────┬──────────────────┘
               ▼
          Ready to publish

What to Do with Unverifiable Claims

When you can't verify something AI generated:

Option 1: Remove it Just delete the claim entirely. Often content works fine without it.

Option 2: Generalize it

Before: "73% of employees prefer remote work"
After: "Many employees prefer remote work"

Option 3: Add qualifier

Before: "This approach always works"
After: "This approach often works in our experience"

Option 4: Replace with verifiable fact Find a real, verified statistic to use instead.

Using AI to Help Verify AI

You can ask AI to help identify verification needs:

Review this content and identify:
1. Any specific claims that need fact-checking
2. Statistics or numbers that should be verified
3. Quotes or attributions to confirm
4. Statements that might be outdated

Content:
[PASTE CONTENT]

Don't verify these yourself — just flag them for human review.

This creates a checklist, but remember: AI can't actually verify facts for you.

Quality Control Checklist

Before publishing AI-generated content:

Accuracy

All statistics verified from original sources
All quotes confirmed accurate and attributed
Company/product names spelled correctly
Dates and timelines accurate
No outdated information

Brand & Voice

Matches our brand voice
Appropriate for target audience
No off-brand language or claims
Consistent tone throughout

Legal & Compliance

No unsubstantiated claims
Compliant with industry regulations
No potential IP issues
Appropriate disclaimers included if needed

Sensitivity

No culturally insensitive content
No potentially offensive statements
Inclusive language used
Considered diverse perspectives

Common AI Errors to Watch For

Error Type	Example	How to Catch
Fabricated statistics	"Studies show 89%..."	Search for source
Wrong company info	Outdated CEO name	Check company website
Made-up quotes	Attributed to famous people	Search exact phrase
Anachronisms	Mixing time periods	Review dates carefully
Overgeneralization	"Everyone knows..."	Look for absolute claims
Outdated info	Old product features	Verify currency

When to Skip Full Verification

Lower-stakes content may need lighter review:

Internal brainstorming documents
Draft outlines for your own use
Creative exploration and ideation
Personal notes and summaries

But always verify before:

Publishing externally
Sharing with clients or customers
Making business decisions
Presenting to leadership

Quality control for AI content requires human judgment. Create a verification workflow, check every factual claim before publishing, and remember that speed gains from AI are lost if you publish errors. The few minutes spent verifying saves hours of damage control later.

Next: Learn responsible practices for using AI in business contexts. :::