You upload your employee handbook, ask a question, and get a confident answer. But is that what the handbook actually says, or a reasonable-sounding guess?
The tip: ask for the source, not just the answer
When you give AI a document to work from, add one instruction: for every point in the answer, quote the sentence from the document that supports it and say where it appears.
That small addition turns the answer into something you can verify quickly. If a quote matches the document, you can trust that point. If the quote is missing or doesn't match, you know to look closer before passing the answer to an employee or customer.
It also helps with a common problem: AI quietly filling gaps with general knowledge when your document doesn't cover the question. Telling it to say "Not found in the document" gives it permission to admit a gap instead of guessing.
How to try it
- Pick one document you trust. A handbook, warranty policy, vendor agreement, or set of meeting notes works well.
- Start a new chat and attach the document. Use the file upload in whichever AI tool you use, or paste the text directly.
- Ask your question with the source request built in. Use the prompt below and fill in the brackets.
- Spot-check one quote. Open the original document and search for the quoted sentence with Ctrl+F (Cmd+F on a Mac).
- Save the instruction for next time. Keep it in a note or saved prompt so every document question includes it.
Copy-and-paste prompt
I've attached our (document name), which is our current (policy / handbook / agreement). I need to answer this question for (an employee / a customer / myself): (your question).
First, answer the question in plain language. Second, for each point in your answer, quote the exact sentence or sentences from the document that support it, and name the section heading or page where they appear. Third, if the document does not address part of the question, write "Not found in the document" for that part instead of filling the gap.
Format: a short answer at the top, followed by a list of supporting quotes with their section or page. Keep the answer under 150 words. Use only the attached document, not general knowledge or assumptions.
One thing to know
Quotes and page numbers can still be wrong. AI can occasionally misquote or point to the wrong section, especially in long or scanned documents. That's why the spot-check matters: one quick search tells you whether the quote is real. And before you upload anything, make sure it's a document your company allows in AI tools.
Try it today
Upload your employee handbook and use the prompt to ask how much notice employees need to give before taking time off. Then search the handbook for one of the quotes it gives you.
Are you ready to create your new AI employee to automate your workflows? Reach out to All Contractor to learn how we can help.
