How We Ask the AI: Our Research Method
Updated October 1, 2026 · By the AskedTheAI Editorial Team
AskedTheAI is a shopping guide that asks four AI models the same buying question and shows you their answers side by side. Most shoppers now ask a chatbot before they buy. Each chatbot gives a different answer, and you rarely see the others. We ask all four for you, publish where they agree and where they split, and check every product on Amazon before linking to it.
How does an AI Panel page get made?
Step 1: We write one buying question
The question is phrased the way a shopper would type it into a chatbot, with the budget and the use case spelled out. Example: "What is the best robot vacuum under $300 for a home with two dogs?"
Step 2: Four models get the identical prompt
We send the same wording to Claude (Anthropic), ChatGPT (OpenAI), Gemini (Google), Grok (xAI) through their official APIs, on the same day, each in a fresh session. We record the exact model version, the date and whether web search was on.
Step 3: We keep the raw answers
Every answer is archived word for word. The page shows each model's ranked picks with a one-line reason taken from its own answer. We do not rewrite a model's opinion into something it did not say.
Step 4: We count the votes
The consensus table shows how many models recommended each product and how many ranked it first. If the models split, we show the split. We never crown a winner the panel did not pick.
Step 5: A human editor checks every product
Our editorial team opens each recommended product on Amazon.com and confirms it exists, ships in the US and is not recalled. Discontinued or made-up products are removed and noted. Only then do we add the affiliate link.
Step 6: We ask again when things change
Panels are re-run about every six months, or sooner when a major new model version ships. The date the panel was asked is printed under the headline.
What are the two review formats?
Every product page carries a label under its headline that tells you which format it uses.
| Format | Source of the picks | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| AI Panel | Answers from Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini and Grok to one identical question | All new guides from September 2026 |
| Review Research | Amazon customer reviews and owner write-ups, summarized by our editorial team | Guides published before September 2026 |
What can an AI panel get wrong?
- Invented products. Models sometimes name a model number that does not exist. The editor check removes these.
- Old information. A model's knowledge stops at its training date, so it can miss new releases or quote old prices. We never show prices from model answers.
- Shared blind spots. Four models agreeing is a signal, not proof. They learn from overlapping sources and can repeat the same mistake.
- No hands-on use. None of the models has held the product. Read the owner reviews on Amazon before you buy.
Frequently asked questions
Is AskedTheAI written by AI?
Partly, and we say so on every page. On AI Panel pages the product picks come from four AI models. Our editor writes the question, checks every product on Amazon and writes the notes around the results. Older Review Research pages were built from Amazon customer reviews and owner write-ups.
Do you test the products yourselves?
No. We do not run a lab and we do not claim hands-on testing. AI Panel pages report what the models recommend. Review Research pages summarize what verified owners report.
Do the AI companies or brands pay you?
No. Anthropic, OpenAI, Google and xAI do not sponsor or review our pages, and no brand can buy a spot. We earn a commission from Amazon when you buy through our links, and the models never see those links.
Related: Meet the AI Panel · Editorial policy · Affiliate disclosure