Lateral reading: how to fact-check AI like a pro

Lateral reading means: when AI says something, you don't keep reading AI — you open a new tab and search to see if anyone else says the same thing. Pros do this in seconds for any claim that matters.

Some examples

• AI says 'studies show X.' You search 'X study' to find the actual study.
• AI gives a date. You check it on Wikipedia or a news site.
• AI quotes a person. You search the quote in quotes to see if it's real.
• AI describes a law. You look up the actual statute on a .gov site.

Try it!

Next time AI tells you a fact, open one new tab and verify it before using it. Make this a 10-second habit.

Practice this safely

Try this with a school, hobby, or family example where the stakes are low. Use the AI output as a draft you can question, not as the final answer.

1. 1Ask AI to explain lateral reading in plain language, then underline anything that sounds uncertain or too broad.
2. 2Give it one detail from "Lateral reading: how to fact-check AI like a pro" and ask for two possible next steps plus one reason each step might be wrong.
3. 3Check verification against a trusted source, teacher, adult, expert, or original document before you use it.