Grounding
grounded answers, citations, source grounding
An AI bases its answer on concrete, checkable sources such as your documents, a database or search results, instead of only its training memory. Well-grounded answers show where each statement comes from.
💭 Imagine …
An open-book exam with footnotes instead of answering from memory: every statement is tied to a source, like a balloon on a string.
🔎 Example
Asked “How many days off do I get?”, the assistant quotes the HR policy, section 3, with a link, instead of guessing a plausible number.
🎯 Why it matters
Grounding reduces hallucinations and makes answers checkable. But an answer is only as good as its source: click through now and then, and outdated documents give outdated answers.
🎓 Prefer step by step?
The AI Literacy course: 6 short modules with quizzes, a solid foundation in about 60 minutes.