Last reviewed
Correct answer: C. Ask it to search, then open the cited sources and confirm they say what is claimed
Explanation
The principle — the goal is not a confident answer, it is an answer you can check.
Why the key is correct — ChatGPT can search the web and cite sources when it needs current information, and OpenAI's own guidance is direct that ChatGPT can make mistakes and you should check important information, especially anything date-, time- or location-sensitive. A citation turns a claim into something you can open and confirm, and opening it is the step that makes the habit work.
Why the others are wrong — asking three times measures consistency rather than accuracy, and a consistent mistake is still a mistake. Stated confidence is not a reliable signal, because an assistant can be wrong while sounding certain. And tone changes how a sentence reads rather than whether it is true.
Remember this — calibrate to the stakes. Brainstorming tolerates errors easily; anything you are about to publish deserves a source you have actually read. For heavier questions, deep research returns a structured report with citations or source links so you can verify the information.
Sources — OpenAI's What is ChatGPT FAQ, ChatGPT Voice and Deep research articles.
Sources
“ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important information, especially for date-sensitive, time-sensitive, or location-sensitive questions.”
“Yes. ChatGPT can search the web and cite sources when it needs current information.”
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