How to Build a Fact-Checking Step Into Your AI Pipeline
As nonfiction authors, we walk a fine line when using AI.
On one hand, AI can help us draft faster, organize complex topics, and even suggest fresh angles we may not have considered.
On the other hand, we all know one unavoidable reality: AI still "hallucinates."
It invents facts, dates, quotes, studies, and sources that sound perfectly plausible — but simply are not true.
If you want to protect the credibility of your work, you cannot treat AI’s output as fully reliable on its own. That is why adding a fact-checking step to your AI pipeline is not optional — it is essential.
Let us walk through exactly how to build that safety net into your writing process.
Step 1 — Understand Where AI Tends to Hallucinate
The first step is awareness.
Not all parts of your manuscript carry equal risk.
AI is most prone to hallucination when:
Citing studies or statistics
Attributing quotes to public figures
Referencing specific laws or regulations
Describing historical timelines or events
Citing organizations or official reports
Whenever you see AI output in these areas, you should assume fact-checking will be needed.
Step 2 — Flag "High-Risk" Claims As You Draft
Do not wait until the editing phase. Get in the habit of actively tagging AI-generated claims as you write.
A simple system works well:
Highlight any sentence that includes specific names, dates, numbers, or studies.
Leave comments like: "Verify source," "Check date," or "Confirm study."
This makes fact-checking a natural, integrated part of your drafting flow — not an overwhelming task you postpone until the end.
Step 3 — Use AI to Assist in Fact-Checking — Not Perform It Alone
Ironically, AI can actually help you with fact-checking — but only if you use it properly.
When you encounter a claim that needs verification, prompt AI with something like:
“Please verify whether [X] is accurate. If possible, provide reputable sources to support or refute this statement.”
AI may pull up some useful starting points — but never just stop there.
Take whatever AI gives you and independently cross-reference it with:
Primary source documents
Official reports and studies
Reputable academic or government databases
Well-established industry publications
Think of AI’s fact-checking role as lead generation, not final confirmation.
Step 4 — Build a Trusted Resource List
One of the most efficient moves you can make is to pre-assemble a personal library of trusted sources.
Depending on your niche, this might include:
Google Scholar
PubMed or similar databases
Government agencies (CDC, FDA, IRS, etc.)
Industry associations
University research repositories
Authoritative media outlets
When AI generates a claim, you can immediately turn to these sources to verify its accuracy.
Step 5 — Create a "Known Hallucination" Log
Over time, you will notice that AI tends to invent the same kinds of errors repeatedly in your niche.
For example:
Attributing fictional studies to Harvard or Stanford
Misquoting famous figures with “pseudo-quotes”
Inventing non-existent books or articles
Keep a simple log of these patterns.
The more you catalog the common hallucinations, the faster you will recognize and correct them in future drafts.
Step 6 — Build Fact-Checking Into Your Workflow Templates
If you use AI pipelines, templates, or writing systems, add fact-checking steps directly into your process documents.
For example:
At the outline stage: Highlight areas where factual claims will be made.
At the drafting stage: Auto-flag any sentences containing specific data.
At the editing stage: Include a mandatory fact-checking pass before moving forward.
By systemizing the step, you make it impossible to skip.
The Bottom Line
AI is an extraordinary tool for nonfiction authors — but it does not relieve you of responsibility.
You, the author, remain the final filter.
By proactively building a fact-checking step into your AI pipeline, you can leverage AI’s speed and creativity while protecting your credibility and producing work you can confidently stand behind.
In a world flooded with questionable content, the authors who combine AI efficiency with human diligence will stand out.
Next Steps: Go Even Further with The Nonfiction Author’s AI Playbook
What you have just read is one small piece of building a professional AI-assisted writing system.
The truth is, most nonfiction authors are only scratching the surface of what AI can do — or worse, they are using it in ways that lead to generic, forgettable books.
Inside "The Nonfiction Author’s AI Playbook", I walk you through the complete system I developed to write, edit, and publish high-quality nonfiction books using AI — while keeping full control over accuracy, voice, and quality.
You will learn:
How to develop structured AI workflows that eliminate guesswork
How to guide AI so your books reflect your voice — not a robot’s
How to avoid common mistakes that lead to embarrassing errors or weak drafts
How to move from idea to published book in a matter of weeks (or even days)
If you are serious about using AI as a tool — not a crutch — "The Nonfiction Author’s AI Playbook" will show you exactly how to do it.
Click Here to Learn More and Get Started...