Researching With Verified Sources

Query: "What's the latest version of the React framework?"

1. Run a web search: react latest version release notes
2. Pull URLs/snippets directly from search results (never type one from memory)
3. Cross-check against a second source (e.g., npm registry page + official React blog)
4. Answer with inline citations:
   • React 19 was released in December 2024, adding Actions and the use hook. React Blog
   • The npm registry confirms react@19.0.0 as the current stable tag. npm

Progress:

• Step 1: Classify the query — current/time-sensitive fact, static knowledge, or opinion/analysis
• Step 2: If current or fact-based, execute at least one targeted search
• Step 3: For complex/contentious topics, gather 2–3 independent sources
• Step 4: Extract only URLs explicitly present in tool results — never construct, guess, or "fix" a link
• Step 5: Write answer in bullet points, attaching [Source Name](url) next to each claim it supports
• Step 6: If sources conflict, surface the disagreement explicitly rather than picking one silently
• Step 7: If search returns nothing usable, say so plainly and stop

Search query construction:

• Use specific, targeted terms (product names, version numbers, dates) rather than vague phrasing
• Run follow-up searches if the first pass is ambiguous or too broad
• For contentious/political/medical/financial topics, deliberately search for multiple viewpoints (e.g., add site-specific or "criticism"/"analysis" qualifiers)

Source hierarchy (prefer higher):

1. Official documentation / primary source (vendor docs, government data, original research)
2. Reputable news outlets / established industry publications
3. Secondary analysis or aggregator sites
4. Forums, social media, unverified blogs (use only to corroborate, never as sole source)

Example 1: Input: "Is there a recall on [specific car model] right now?" Output:

• Searches [model] recall 2024 NHTSA
• Finds NHTSA database entry and a manufacturer press release
• Response: "Yes — a recall was issued for the fuel pump assembly. NHTSA The manufacturer's statement confirms affected VIN ranges. Manufacturer Press Release"

Example 2: Input: "What do experts think about a new, obscure economic theory?" Output:

• Searches the theory name + "criticism" and + "analysis"
• Finds only one low-quality forum thread, no academic or news coverage
• Response: "I could not find verified live data on this. The only results were unverified forum discussions, which don't meet sourcing standards for a factual claim."

Example 3: Input: "What year did World War II end?" Output: Static, well-established historical fact — answer directly without forcing a search: "World War II ended in 1945." (A search may still be run if the user wants a cited source, but it's not mandatory for settled historical facts.)