ChatGPT Prompts: Ask to Distinguish Between Facts and Theories
WEEK 23 :: POST 9 :: SPECIAL SERIES :: ChatGPT o1 Prompts
SPECIAL SERIES: ChatGPT o1 vs Gemini 2.0 Experimental Advanced vs Claude 3.5 Sonnet
Instruction Given to ChatGPT o1 - Please provide 3 prompt variations that share this objective:
Minimizing A.I. Hallucination: Ask to Distinguish Between Facts and Theories
Overview: Differentiating between facts and theories helps the AI provide a nuanced response that acknowledges the certainty of information, reducing potential inaccuracies.
SPECIAL SERIES: ChatGPT o1 vs Gemini 2.0 Experimental Advanced vs Claude 3.5 Sonnet vs. Perplexity.ai Pro: We give the 4 most popular Generative A.I. Services the same task so that we can compare and contrast them. The tasks follow the process of building a successful business from the ground up.
Find out more about our automated processes. Since Ketelsen.ai is updated on Mondays, we provide multiple blog posts each Monday. The best of these prompts will eventually be added to my website aicookbook.ai.
Prompt Variation 1: Unpacking [Topic]: Highlighting Verified Facts vs. Underlying Theories
In a world awash with information, knowing which points are proven and which remain under scrutiny can dramatically improve the precision of your work and decision-making. By dissecting each aspect of a topic into facts and theories, you’ll not only enhance your own understanding but also communicate these distinctions more effectively to clients, stakeholders, or a broader audience.
In many sectors—from marketing strategies to scientific research—being able to differentiate facts from theories ensures clarity, prevents misinformation, and enables more targeted business moves. Entrepreneurs often encounter data and hypotheses intermingled in whitepapers, market studies, and internal reports. Using this prompt can help parse through these materials to distill actionable insights.
Prompt: “Provide a detailed discussion of [insert topic], ensuring a clear separation between verified facts (with credible evidence) and currently debated theories. Close with a brief assessment of how these distinctions might affect practical decision-making.”
Prompt Breakdown: How ChatGPT Reads The Prompt
Provide a detailed discussion of [insert topic]
Why it’s useful: Encourages a thorough overview rather than a cursory explanation. Great for entrepreneurs needing in-depth knowledge.
How to tweak: Substitute “detailed” with “concise” or “quick summary” for simpler outputs.
Ensuring a clear separation between verified facts (with credible evidence) and currently debated theories
Why it’s useful: Forces the AI to label each statement as “fact” or “theory,” reducing confusion.
How to tweak: If you want references, request “include any reliable data sources or references” to further validate facts.
Close with a brief assessment of how these distinctions might affect practical decision-making
Why it’s useful: Encourages the AI to connect academic or theoretical information to real-world applications.
How to tweak: You could ask for “detailed examples” of practical impacts instead of a brief assessment.
Use Cases
Investor Pitches: Clarify market metrics (facts) vs. projections or models (theories).
Product Development: Understand known user behaviors (facts) vs. speculations about future trends (theories).
Research Summaries: Summarize scientific findings separating proven data from hypotheses.
Prerequisites
Basic familiarity with the topic in question.
Access to relevant data sources or background research if you plan to cross-check the AI’s output.
Tags and Categories
Tags: #FactsVsTheories, #DecisionMaking, #MarketResearch
Categories: AI Prompt Engineering, Research & Analysis, Business Strategy
Required Tools or Software
A modern AI text-generation tool (e.g., ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Anthropic Claude).
(Optional) A note-taking or project management app to store and review AI-generated insights.
Time to Implement
Initial Prompt & Review: ~10 minutes
Fact-Checking and Editing: Varies based on complexity of the topic (5–30 minutes additional)
Industry-Specific Applications
Healthcare: Differentiate between proven treatment outcomes (facts) and emerging medical hypotheses (theories).
Technology Startups: Clarify known system requirements (facts) and developing product features or future specs (theories).
Consultancy: Pinpoint tested frameworks (facts) versus new or untested methodological approaches (theories).
Difficulty Level
Beginner: No coding or advanced knowledge required; you just need to input the prompt.
Compatibility
Works with: ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Anthropic Claude, and most text-based AI systems.
Integrations: No special integrations needed, but can be paired with data analysis tools for deeper cross-referencing.
Practical Examples from Different Industries
Tech Startup Example
Prompt Input: “Provide a detailed discussion of cloud-based data storage, ensuring a clear separation between verified facts (like data retention policies) and currently debated theories (such as potential quantum computing vulnerabilities). Close with a brief assessment of how these distinctions might affect practical decision-making.”
AI Output Highlights: The AI lists known data security protocols as facts and outlines speculative quantum-related threats as theories, helping a founder decide on immediate vs. future-proofing measures.
Retail Business Example
Prompt Input: “Provide a detailed discussion of consumer behavior in e-commerce, ensuring a clear separation between verified facts (like existing demographic data) and currently debated theories (such as the future impact of augmented reality shopping). Close with a brief assessment of how these distinctions might affect practical decision-making.”
AI Output Highlights: The AI identifies proven metrics about purchase frequency and speculations about AR adoption rates, guiding marketing strategies.
Freelance Consultant Example
Prompt Input: “Provide a detailed discussion of SWOT analysis effectiveness, ensuring a clear separation between verified facts (well-documented benefits) and currently debated theories (long-term utility in rapidly changing markets). Close with a brief assessment of how these distinctions might affect practical decision-making.”
AI Output Highlights: The AI highlights case studies as facts and emerging critical opinions as theories, allowing a consultant to refine recommendations.
Adaptability Tips
Scaling: For more complex topics, break down the request into multiple sub-prompts (e.g., “Discuss historical development of [topic]” before analyzing facts vs. theories).
Customization: Ask for citations, real-world case studies, or even footnotes to support each fact.
Visual Aids or Flowcharts
Facts vs. Theories
A quick visual to distinguish established truths from ongoing debates.
| Facts | Theories |
|---|---|
|
Definition: Points that are widely accepted, supported by credible evidence, or confirmed through repeated observations.
Role in Decision-Making: Serve as a reliable foundation for strategic plans, minimizing risk when you need to act quickly. |
Definition: Speculative ideas, models, or frameworks that require more testing, validation, or consensus.
Role in Decision-Making: Offer potential for innovation but carry uncertainty—ideal for brainstorming or long-term exploration. |
Examples:
|
Examples:
|
Efficiency & Time-Saving Metrics
Time Saved: Using this prompt can cut research time by up to 50% for entrepreneurs who would otherwise sift through raw data on their own.
Effort Reduced: Clear distinctions minimize back-and-forth clarifications with stakeholders, saving multiple email threads or meeting hours.
Optional Pro Tips
Pro Tip #1: Encourage the AI to list its sources or disclaimers.
Pro Tip #2: For advanced users, combine with a sentiment analysis request to see how different theories are perceived in online communities.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Do I still need to verify the AI’s listed “facts”?
A: Yes. While the AI helps organize and clarify information, cross-verifying facts is essential to ensure accuracy.Q: What if the AI cannot find enough data for a topic?
A: Request disclaimers or next steps—like “What data would be helpful to gather?”—to guide further research.
Recommended Follow-Up Prompts
“Explain the evolution of [topic] over time, highlighting major milestones.”
“Outline potential future developments in [topic], rated by likelihood and supported by references.”
“Generate a pros-and-cons list of adopting the proven elements vs. experimental theories of [topic].”
Prompt Variation 2: Clarify the Known vs. the Unknown: Exploring [Topic] with a Facts-Theories Lens
Information overload is a common challenge. For busy entrepreneurs, it’s critical to sift what’s established from what’s speculative. By prompting an AI to segment these distinctions, you can make better-informed choices quickly, without wading through guesswork.
Whether you’re evaluating a new business model or assessing emerging tech, you need clarity. Entrepreneurs often struggle to filter noise from signal. This prompt specifically tackles that pain point by requiring the AI to categorize each statement as factual or theoretical.
Prompt:“Evaluate [insert topic] by labeling each point as an established fact or a speculative theory, and highlight any consensus or contention among experts.”
Prompt Breakdown
Evaluate [insert topic]
Usefulness: Directs the AI to examine the topic comprehensively—covering background, current developments, or controversies.
Tweak: Focus only on one aspect, like “customer engagement” or “market volatility,” if you want a narrower scope.
Label each point as an established fact or a speculative theory
Usefulness: Encourages a bullet-point or structured layout, simplifying the reading experience.
Tweak: If you want deeper analysis, ask for “extended explanations or references for each fact and theory.”
Highlight any consensus or contention among experts
Usefulness: Shows how widely accepted each fact or theory is and whether there’s debate.
Tweak: If you only want top-level agreement, remove “contention” from the request.
Use Cases
Market Feasibility Studies: Pinpoint established market data vs. predicted (theoretical) trends.
Team Brainstorm Sessions: Quickly gather objective truths vs. speculative assumptions about a project.
Personal Learning: Rapidly understand both the well-accepted information and controversies in any field.
Prerequisites
Familiarity with basic terminology of the topic.
A stable internet connection to use an AI tool.
Tags and Categories
Tags: #AIForEntrepreneurs, #FactChecking, #TheoryDistinction
Categories: Research Tools, Productivity Hacks, Knowledge Management
Required Tools or Software
Any AI language model platform or chatbot interface (e.g., ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Anthropic Claude).
Time to Implement
Prompt Input: 2–5 minutes
Review & Validation: 10–15 minutes (longer if the topic is complex)
Industry-Specific Applications
E-Learning & Online Courses: Distinguish validated education practices from emerging instructional theories.
Legal: Separate established case law precedents (facts) from theoretical interpretations yet to be tested in court.
Fashion & Retail: Clarify proven consumer preferences from speculative trends.
Difficulty Level
Intermediate: Requires some knowledge to effectively evaluate the AI’s breakdown, especially if complex or specialized data is involved.
Compatibility
Compatible With: Any generative AI system that can process detailed prompts.
Integrations: Not required; can be used standalone.
Practical Examples from Different Industries
Tech Startup Example
Prompt Input: “Evaluate autonomous vehicles by labeling each point as an established fact or a speculative theory, and highlight any consensus or contention among experts.”
AI Output Highlights: The AI clarifies that self-driving cars are proven to work in controlled environments (fact) but remain debated regarding ethical decision-making algorithms (theory).
Small Retail Business Example
Prompt Input: “Evaluate seasonal consumer spending by labeling each point as an established fact or a speculative theory, and highlight any consensus or contention among experts.”
AI Output Highlights: The AI might confirm holiday purchasing peaks (fact) while noting uncertain future e-commerce adoption rates for older demographics (theory).
Freelance Consultant Example
Prompt Input: “Evaluate the success factors of remote project management by labeling each point as an established fact or a speculative theory, and highlight any consensus or contention among experts.”
AI Output Highlights: The AI points out proven productivity benefits (fact) but explains that long-term cultural impacts of fully remote teams remain speculative (theory).
Adaptability Tips
Advanced Data: Ask for numeric data or key statistics with references to support each fact.
Regional Focus: Narrow down the prompt to a specific geographical area if local data is crucial.
Visual Aids or Flowcharts
Fact/Theory Timeline
An illustrative timeline showing how accepted knowledge has evolved and where disputes still exist.
- Established Fact: Widely confirmed data or findings.
- Emerging Theory: Insights still under investigation or debate.
| Time Period | Established Facts | Emerging Theories/Disputes |
|---|---|---|
|
Early Stage (Historical Baseline) |
|
|
|
Mid Stage (Growth & Validation) |
|
|
|
Current Stage (Mainstream Adoption) |
|
|
|
Future Outlook (Potential Developments) |
|
|
Efficiency & Time-Saving Metrics
Time Saved: Speeds up research by eliminating repeated manual sorting of data.
Decision Quality: Increases confidence in strategic choices because known truths are separated from assumptions.
Optional Pro Tips
Pro Tip #1: Request “conflicting theories” to see if any widely accepted assumption is challenged by a minority opinion.
Pro Tip #2: You could also ask the AI for “visual analogies” or simplified metaphors to explain complex theories.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What if the topic is too broad or vague?
A: Narrow down your subject. For instance, focus on “renewable energy adoption in North America” rather than “global energy.”Q: How often should I revisit the facts vs. theories distinction?
A: Regularly, especially if the field is rapidly changing (like AI advancements or consumer tech trends).
Recommended Follow-Up Prompts
“Outline potential future developments in [topic], ranking them by plausibility.”
“Craft a quick FAQ about [topic] highlighting new, controversial theories.”
“Generate a key takeaway summary that merges the verified facts and plausible theories of [topic].”
Prompt Variation 3: Deconstructing [Topic]: Separating the Concrete from the Conjectural
Most entrepreneurs juggle multiple roles and can’t afford to base decisions on uncertain information. This prompt streamlines your exploration of any subject, giving you a structured way to confirm what’s firmly established and what’s still up for debate.
Business plans, marketing analyses, technological forecasts—these all mix proven truths with conjecture. If you’re strategizing or pitching to investors, a well-defined boundary between fact and theory can elevate credibility and guide better action plans.
Prompt: “Deconstruct [insert topic] by outlining core factual elements, ongoing debates, and promising but not-yet-proven ideas, ensuring the response clarifies the certainty of each point.”
Prompt Breakdown
Deconstruct [insert topic]
Usefulness: Directs the AI to ‘break down’ the topic systematically.
Tweak: Replace “deconstruct” with “outline” or “analyze” for a milder approach.
Outline core factual elements, ongoing debates, and promising but not-yet-proven ideas
Usefulness: Divides the response into three distinct sections, making it easier to parse.
Tweak: Request specific data or metrics if needed.
Ensuring the response clarifies the certainty of each point
Usefulness: Enhances transparency, encouraging disclaimers or confidence levels.
Tweak: For advanced detail, you can add “Provide approximate confidence levels (e.g., 90%, 70%) for each statement.”
Use Cases
Content Creation: Writers can spot which ideas are verified vs. which remain theoretical.
Internal Documentation: Clarify established procedures vs. newly proposed methods in a company handbook.
Sales & Marketing: Differentiate guaranteed product features from upcoming or uncertain expansions.
Prerequisites
Basic domain knowledge to confirm the plausibility of the AI’s breakdown.
Willingness to refine the prompt further if the information is too broad or overly narrow.
Tags and Categories
Tags: #AIWriting, #StrategicPlanning, #InformationAccuracy
Categories: Business Intelligence, Content Strategy, Data-Driven Decision Making
Required Tools or Software
Access to any major AI text-generation platform.
(Optional) Spreadsheet or project management tool to record and track these points.
Time to Implement
Prompt Setup: 3–5 minutes
Reading & Analysis: ~10–15 minutes, depending on complexity
Industry-Specific Applications
Manufacturing: Separate known production efficiencies (fact) from future automation proposals (theory).
Agritech: Distinguish proven crop yield data from experimental farming techniques.
Event Planning: Confirm established guidelines (fact) vs. emerging trends in virtual/hybrid events (theory).
Difficulty Level
Beginner: Straightforward prompt that doesn’t require technical or coding expertise.
Compatibility
Works On: All AI chat platforms that accept complex instructions.
Integrates With: Productivity and research apps but not mandatory.
Practical Examples from Different Industries
Tech Startup Example
Prompt Input: “Deconstruct blockchain security by outlining core factual elements, ongoing debates, and promising but not-yet-proven ideas, ensuring the response clarifies the certainty of each point.”
AI Output Highlights: The AI might confirm known cryptographic methods as facts, highlight debated regulations or scalability issues, and mention quantum-resilient algorithms as unproven but promising.
Nonprofit Organization Example
Prompt Input: “Deconstruct global philanthropy efforts by outlining core factual elements, ongoing debates, and promising but not-yet-proven ideas, ensuring the response clarifies the certainty of each point.”
AI Output Highlights: The AI identifies verified data on donation trends, ongoing debates around overhead costs, and new crowd-funding models that are still emerging.
Consulting Firm Example
Prompt Input: “Deconstruct agile project management methods by outlining core factual elements, ongoing debates, and promising but not-yet-proven ideas, ensuring the response clarifies the certainty of each point.”
AI Output Highlights: The AI lists well-documented benefits like rapid iteration (fact), addresses debates over scaling agile in large enterprises, and highlights advanced frameworks that are still being tested (theory).
Adaptability Tips
Localized Versions: Request data from a specific region or industry if you need narrower insights.
Expert Insights: If you have domain experts, ask the AI to incorporate or compare their opinions with mainstream views.
Visual Aids or Flowcharts
Fact/Theory Timeline
An illustrative timeline showing how accepted knowledge has evolved and where disputes still exist.
- Established Fact: Widely confirmed data or findings.
- Emerging Theory: Insights still under investigation or debate.
| Time Period | Established Facts | Emerging Theories/Disputes |
|---|---|---|
|
Early Stage (Historical Baseline) |
|
|
|
Mid Stage (Growth & Validation) |
|
|
|
Current Stage (Mainstream Adoption) |
|
|
|
Future Outlook (Potential Developments) |
|
|
Efficiency & Time-Saving Metrics
Time Saved: Potentially reduces research or brainstorming sessions by half, as the AI organizes information automatically.
Error Reduction: Minimizes mixing up proven details with mere speculation, which can cost businesses resources if not recognized early.
Optional Pro Tips
Pro Tip #1: Invite the AI to suggest relevant stakeholders or experts for each debate, giving you leads for further research.
Pro Tip #2: Ask the AI to identify “key questions still to be answered,” helping you shape future research agendas.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Can the AI always distinguish fact from theory accurately?
A: It depends on its training data. Always verify critical facts independently.Q: How detailed can this separation become?
A: Highly detailed if you specify. You can ask for data references, studies, or confidence levels.
Recommended Follow-Up Prompts
“Summarize the top areas of uncertainty in [topic] and propose research questions to resolve them.”
“Provide a comprehensive pros-and-cons list for adopting the established facts vs. exploring the emerging theories in [topic].”
“Create an action plan that prioritizes factual insights over theoretical possibilities for quick implementation.”
TAGS:
