AI is an incredible tool for brainstorming and summarizing broad topics, but it is not a primary source. A smart research workflow uses AI to find angles and questions, then verifies every specific claim with a human-verified database or reputable news source.
The extremely well-read (but sometimes lying) colleague
Think of AI as a colleague who has read every book in the library but sometimes forgets which book said what. They can explain complex concepts fluently, but they will absolutely hallucinate a citation if they can't find a real one. You wouldn't put that colleague's unverified memory in a board report. Don't do it with AI.
The practical research workflow
- Orient: Use AI to understand the "big picture" of a topic.
- Ideate: Ask it for five research questions you might be missing.
- Verify: This is the most important step. Take every fact, date, and statistic and find the original source in a peer-reviewed article, a government database, or a trusted news site. If the AI gives you a link, check it. It might be a link to nowhere.