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10 ChatGPT Prompts I Use Before Trusting Any Output
[INSIDE] A simple trust-check workflow for AI answers
Keval Vachharajani
January 30, 2026
Hey folks,
ChatGPT is incredibly good at sounding right.
Clear structure.
Confident tone.
Reasonable explanations.
That’s also why it’s easy to trust answers too quickly.
Over time, I’ve stopped treating ChatGPT as a final-answer machine.
Instead, I treat it like a first draft that must be challenged.
Here are 10 prompts I regularly use to sanity-check ChatGPT outputs before I rely on them.
1️⃣ The Assumption Check
When to use it:
When the answer feels logical but a bit too smooth.
Prompt:
“What assumptions are you making in this answer? List them explicitly.”
Why it works:
Most errors hide inside unstated assumptions.
2️⃣ The Counterargument Prompt
When to use it:
When ChatGPT strongly recommends one approach.
Prompt:
“Argue against this answer as if you strongly disagree with it.”
Why it works:
It forces ChatGPT out of agreement mode.
3️⃣ The Missing Context Finder
When to use it:
When the output feels complete but shallow.
Prompt:
“What important context, constraints, or information might be missing here?”
Why it works:
AI answers what you ask — not what you forget.
4️⃣ The Failure Mode Prompt
When to use it:
Before applying advice in real situations.
Prompt:
“In what situations would this approach fail or produce bad results?”
Why it works:
Real-world failures happen at the edges.
5️⃣ The Confidence Check
When to use it:
When the tone sounds very certain.
Prompt:
“Which parts of this answer are you least confident about, and why?”
Why it works:
Good reasoning includes uncertainty. Bad reasoning hides it.
6️⃣ The Simplification Test
When to use it:
When the explanation feels overly complex.
Prompt:
“Explain this again using fewer steps or simpler reasoning.”
Why it works:
Unnecessary complexity often masks weak logic.
7️⃣ The Alternative Paths Prompt
When to use it:
When ChatGPT presents one ‘best’ solution.
Prompt:
“What are two alternative ways to approach this problem, and when would they be better?”
Why it works:
There’s rarely only one correct approach.
8️⃣ The Real-World Stress Test
When to use it:
Before using the output at work.
Prompt:
“What real-world factors could reduce the effectiveness of this solution?”
Why it works:
Moves the answer out of ideal conditions.
9️⃣ The Self-Critique Prompt
When to use it:
After a long or detailed response.
Prompt:
“Critique your own answer. What are its weakest points?”
Why it works:
Self-review exposes hidden gaps.
🔟 The Follow-Up Generator
When to use it:
When you’re not sure what to question next.
Prompt:
“If you were reviewing this answer critically, what follow-up questions would you ask?”
Why it works:
It reveals blind spots you didn’t think of.
Curated Prompt Library
Kickstart any task with our Curated Prompt Library, packed with ready-to-use prompts for everyday work. You can also create your own custom prompts, save them privately, and share them with your team, so everyone stays consistent, faster, and on the same page.
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Cheers,
Keval, Editor
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