Quick answer
Give ChatGPT the files or exact URLs, then use a strict, repeatable prompt that (a) restricts the model to only those sources, (b) requests inline location markers (author, year, page/para), (c) asks for a machine-verifiable reference list with DOI/URL, and (d) demands verbatim quote snippets for any specific claims. Always validate automated citations with a short checklist (below).

Recommended single-shot prompt (copy/paste)
“I will provide PDFs or direct URLs. Use only these documents. Produce: 1) a 4–6 sentence executive summary with inline citations in [Author Year, p. #] form; 2) a ‘Key Claims’ list (1–3 bullets each) with a short quoted excerpt and its exact location (page and paragraph number); 3) a final References section in APA style including DOI or stable URL for each cited item. If you can’t find a DOI or page number, say ‘missing’ and explain why. Do not hallucinate citations.”

Decision criteria — when this method is good vs not
- Best-for: internal briefs, lit-scan summaries, triaging many papers quickly, teams with someone available to verify citations.
- Avoid-if: you need legally definitive citations, final submission references without manual checking, or if papers are behind paywalls and you can’t attach the PDFs.
- Depends on: budget and skill — if you have funds or advanced needs (long-context or high accuracy), consider using a model built for long-context verification (e.g., Claude) or a toolchain that ingests PDFs directly; if you’re a junior researcher, attach sources and follow the checklist below.

Practical checklist (do this every time)
1) Attach the PDF(s) or paste exact URLs into the chat. Don’t rely on the model to “find” the paper. 2) Use the prompt above verbatim. 3) Ask the model to output a one-line “source map” listing which statements map to which file name + page number. 4) Extract the quoted snippets the model gives, then open the PDF and confirm exact wording and page numbers (spot-check 3 claims). 5) Verify DOIs/URLs via CrossRef or the publisher page (or Zotero). 6) If anything is “missing” or “uncertain,” ask the model to re-check only the provided files and repeat step 4.

Quick verification prompts (follow-ups)
- “For claim #2, show the 10–15 word span from the paper that supports it and the exact page.”
- “List any references you cited that lack a DOI and give me the publisher landing page link.”

Best-for / Avoid-if (one-liners)
- Best-for: fast internal briefs where a reviewer will spot-check citations.
- Avoid-if: you must publish exact, unchallengeable references without manual verification.

Final recommendation
Use ChatGPT with the strict “use only attached documents” workflow for speed, but always run the short verification checklist before trusting citations. If your team needs longer contexts or heavier verification automation, evaluate Claude or a PDF-ingest toolchain and budget extra validation time.

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