Research an unfamiliar topic without losing the sources

For: Anyone who needs to get up to speed quickly and accurately · Facts checked: 2026-10-21 · Use case UC028

The problem

You need to understand a new topic fast, but AI answers can sound right while citing the wrong thing.

Recommended approach

Pick the tool by research mode: an AI search tool for quick open-web exploration, a notebook for working from a fixed set of sources. Ask it to separate sourced facts from inference, then open the sources behind every decision-critical claim.

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Try this now

Write the exact question. Include geography, timeframe and what you will use it for.
Ask for sourced facts. Request dates and a source for every important claim.
Separate fact from inference. Ask it to label facts, inferences and disagreements.
Open the sources. For anything you'll rely on, open the link and confirm it says that.
Write your own summary. Keep the source list with your notes.

What you should get: A short briefing where each key fact has a dated, openable source, plus labelled inferences and open questions.

Example input · edit before use

Research question: [question], focused on [country], [timeframe].
Give me a briefing with:
- 5–8 key facts, each with source link and publication date
- What is inference or opinion (labelled)
- Where sources disagree
- What is still unknown
Prefer primary and official sources.

Check the result

Open every source behind a decision-critical claim
Sources exist and say what is claimed
Dates are recent enough
Primary sources used where possible

Privacy: Don't paste confidential plans into public search tools.

Which tool to use

Use what you already have first. These options are not ranked.

Start here

AI search with citations

Best when: Quick open-web exploration

Tools: Perplexity

Start here

Source-bounded notebook

Best when: You already have the key sources (reports, papers)

Tools: Gemini Notebook

Free option

Use one general assistant you already have (free tiers often enough)

Best when: You have no AI at work, or only a personal account

Tools: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini

More options: plans, costs and subscriptions

Moderate: documented workflow fit; no independent head-to-head testing of these tools for this job. Prices come from each tool's record, with the date checked; always confirm on the vendor's page.

Preferred approach

AI search with citations

Best when: Quick open-web exploration
Tools: Perplexity
Why it fits: Built for fast web research with linked sources.
Subscription: Free tier; Pro for deeper research.
Cost (from tool records): Perplexity: Free; Pro $20/month; Enterprise tiers higher. (reported, not re-checked 2026-10-21 · source)

Preferred approach

Source-bounded notebook

Best when: You already have the key sources (reports, papers)
Tools: Gemini Notebook
Why it fits: Answers only from the sources you add, with citations.
Subscription: Standard access available.
Cost (from tool records): Gemini Notebook: Standard access available; paid Google/Workspace plans provide higher limits depending on account. (reported, not re-checked 2026-10-21 · source)

Free / already-owned option

Use one general assistant you already have (free tiers often enough)

Best when: You have no AI at work, or only a personal account
Tools: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini
Why it fits: Their web search or research modes work for synthesis; check limits on free tiers.
Subscription: Not required: free tiers can be sufficient; usage limits vary by plan.
Cost (from tool records): ChatGPT: Free; Go $8/month U.S.; Plus $20/month. (reported, not re-checked 2026-10-21 · source)
Claude: Free; Pro $20/month billed monthly ($17/month with annual billing); Max from $100/month (U.S.). (verified 2026-10-21 · source)
Gemini: Free access plus Google AI Plus $9.99 and Pro $19.99/month U.S. (reported, not re-checked 2026-10-21 · source)

Assumptions

You can use at least one general AI assistant (many have free tiers), or your employer already provides one.
You are allowed to put this material into that tool. Check your workplace policy first.

Why this approach

Why it fits

Research tools show where claims come from, so you can check them.
Free tiers cover occasional research.
Opening the sources is the step that makes it reliable; independent testing shows citations can still be wrong.

When not to use it

You need authoritative legal, medical or financial advice.
The topic changes daily and dates aren't shown.

How we know

Claim	Evidence	Source	Checked
Promptivity's own research synthesis (Research 1) lists this among its 10 launch use cases, drawing on published survey, behavioural and experimental studies of workplace AI use. Internal prioritization by Promptivity, not an independent evaluation and not a performance result.	Promptivity research synthesis	Source	2026-10-21
A 2025 Tow Center (Columbia Journalism Review) test found AI search tools frequently cited sources incorrectly. "Has citations" is not the same as "verified". Narrow news-citation test; historical, not a 2026 benchmark.	Outside evaluation	Source	2026-10-21
Which tools fit, and on which plans, comes from Research 2: vendor documentation plus Promptivity editorial judgement. Its rankings are editorial, not measured. No product was hands-on tested.	Editorial	Source	2026-10-21
Perplexity Help Center documents that answers include links to their original sources, and that Pro Search goes deeper across more sources. Vendor documentation, checked 2026-10-21. Page blocks scripted fetches (403); claim wording confirmed via search-index excerpt of the same page on 2026-10-21. Not hands-on tested by Promptivity.	Vendor-documented	Source	2026-10-21

What we don't know yet

No current independent multi-domain research benchmark across these tools.

Evidence types: Vendor-documented (the vendor's own help pages) · Outside evaluation (independent published study) · Promptivity research synthesis (our own compilation of published studies) · Editorial (our judgement) · Unknown. Nothing on this page was hands-on tested by Promptivity. Revisit if credible independent testing shows one tool is materially better for beginners, or if a listed tool changes access or price.

How this guide was prepared

This guide is based on published sources. We have not independently tested this workflow hands-on.

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