1 minute readReference note
How are reviews and discussion forums cited in AI answers evaluated?
In brief
Reviews and discussions need to be evaluated as evidence with a defined scope. They can document someone's experience, reveal a recurring problem, or contain speculation and false claims. A detailed first-person account is not automatically a verified description of the entire company.
The review considers the date, product or location, contributor's stated relationship, supporting evidence, and whether later replies change the account. Follow the claim beyond the original post into quoted copies, other discussions, reference pages, and the answer being tested. A factual account can enter the broader information environment even when the current answer does not show a link to the originating discussion.
Source support is assessed at the claim level. Address a real service problem operationally, correct an inaccurate public statement, and resolve a misleading summary with evidence about the experience's scope. Build reference material that answers the issue and contribute directly where it helps the discussion. Retest the claim and its context across relevant questions to assess the source environment and the displayed citation.