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The AI Playbook · Lesson 7 of 8

The Knowledge Hygiene Test

Know what you know. Mark what you don't.

The Problem

You don't know if what AI told you is true, so you either trust it because it sounds confident, or distrust everything. Neither is useful.

The Workflow
Step 1

Self-Assessment

Ask: 'Do I know enough to evaluate this?'

Step 2

If Yes: Verify

You have expertise — verify the specific claims.

Step 3

If No: Hypothesis

Treat the output as a starting hypothesis, not an answer.

Step 4

Mark Uncertainty

When passing output downstream, flag what's unverified.

Step 5

Invest First

Understand the domain before shipping unfamiliar work.

Why This Works

You're honest about what you know. You don't pretend AI gave you expertise you don't have. You manage uncertainty instead of being paralyzed by it.

Real-World Scenario

Drafting a policy brief on tax law changes. You understand the operational impact — that's your domain. But legislative details? Use AI to help synthesize, but mark uncertainty: 'We recommend legal review before relying on this for operational decisions.' That honesty protects your credibility.

Watch For
Confidence in AI output exceeding your actual expertise
Shipping work in domains where you're guessing
Skipping verification because 'AI usually gets this right'
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