Cited quick answers: how to do it with AI
Last checked 2026-10-15
BeginnerBot with human review 🔎 Research
Get answers with source links you can verify.
1. Bot automation level
Bot with human review The bot does the work, but facts, numbers or code should be checked.
2. Before you hand it to the bot
- Gather inputs: the text, file or details the bot needs.
- Access: make sure you can use the chosen bot/plan (see limits below).
- Context: tell the bot audience, purpose, constraints and examples of good output.
- Privacy check: remove personal, confidential or regulated data unless your plan/workspace is approved for it.
- Success criteria: write down what 'done' looks like (length, format, tests passing, fields filled).
3. Copy-paste prompts
Main prompt
What changed in the EU AI Act timeline this year? Cite sources.
Beginner-friendly
What changed in the EU AI Act timeline this year? Cite sources. I'm new to this: explain each step in plain words and ask me for anything you need before starting.
Check-your-work
What changed in the EU AI Act timeline this year? Cite sources. When you finish, list any assumptions you made, anything you're unsure about, and what I should double-check before using the result.
Free tiers that can handle this (verified): Perplexity (incl. Comet), ChatGPT (incl. Work & Codex), Google Gemini, Claude (incl. Claude Code). Others: check plan.
4. Step-by-step
- Open any bot from the list below.
- Paste the prompt below, filling in your details.
- Read the answer; ask for changes (shorter, different tone, more examples).
- Check it against your success criteria and fix anything off.
- Copy the result into where it's needed.
5. Which bots and plans can do it
| Tool | What's different here | Plan limits | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perplexity (incl. Comet) | — | Pricing not verified — check official site for Deep Research limits. | www.perplexity.ai/comet/ |
| ChatGPT (incl. Work & Codex) | — | Free tier has limited deep research, Codex and Work; scheduled tasks need Go or higher (per chatgpt.com/pricing). | help.openai.com/en/articles/20001275-chatgpt-work-and-codex |
| Google Gemini | — | Free tier includes Deep Research, Canvas, Gems; video generation needs AI Plus or higher. | gemini.google/overview/deep-research/ |
| Claude (incl. Claude Code) | — | Claude Code and Research need Pro or higher; computer use is Pro/Max only (research preview). | code.claude.com/docs/en/desktop |
| Microsoft Copilot | — | Copilot in Word/Excel/PowerPoint/Outlook needs an eligible Microsoft 365 plan. | www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-copilot/for-individuals/features |
| Grok | — | Free to try; SuperGrok gives higher limits and multi-agent (price not verified). | x.ai/grok |
Free or paid?
- Perplexity (incl. Comet): Free plan: yes. search with citations, limited daily use. Paid: the lowest price we could verify on the official pricing page is $17/month (other plans may exist). Its free tier can handle this task.
- ChatGPT (incl. Work & Codex): Free plan: yes. unlimited text chats; limited uploads, images, voice, deep research and Codex. Paid: price not verified, so check the official site. Its free tier can handle this task.
- Google Gemini: Free plan: yes. Flash-Lite model, image generation, Deep Research, Live, Canvas, Gems. Video needs AI Plus or higher. Paid: the lowest price we could verify on the official pricing page is $99.99/month (other plans may exist). Its free tier can handle this task.
- Claude (incl. Claude Code): Free plan: yes. chat, web search, files & code execution, Artifacts, connectors. Claude Code and Research need Pro. Paid: the lowest price we could verify on the official pricing page is $20/month (other plans may exist). Its free tier can handle this task.
- Microsoft Copilot: Free: not verified, so check the official site. Paid: the lowest price we could verify on the official pricing page is $23.5/month (other plans may exist). For this task, check the plan.
- Grok: Free plan: yes. to try; SuperGrok has higher limits (price not verified). Paid: price not verified, so check the official site. For this task, check the plan.
6. Risks and what to double-check
- Open the cited sources; AI can misquote or cite outdated pages.
- AI can hallucinate facts — verify anything that matters.
- Don't share secrets or other people's personal data.
Professions that use this
Cybersecurity analyst · Researcher