Your AI Installation Kit

Overview

What you're building

A research workspace that separates two jobs: extracting facts from each source into a consistent notes format, then synthesizing those notes into a briefing. Every claim in the final report traces back to a named source.

Why this setup

Asking for a report in one step invites confident summaries with untraceable claims. Splitting extraction from synthesis, and keeping a source log, gives you a briefing you can defend. A workspace keeps the format and source log between sessions.

The workflow architecture

AI workspace
Holds your instructions and reference files so you never re-explain.
Reusable instructions
Two-phase method: extract, then synthesize, with citations.
Spreadsheet or tracker
A simple source log (title, date, link, reliability).
Document template
Your briefing structure.
Your review
Spot-check citations against the original sources.

You haven't picked a tool yet, so this kit is platform-neutral. Both Claude and ChatGPT support this setup.

Claude	ChatGPT
Claude Projects: instructions + project knowledge files	ChatGPT Projects: instructions + uploaded files
Optional Claude Skills for reusing a format across chats (plan-dependent)	Personalization settings can hold short preferences
Paid plan needed for Projects	Plan determines Project and file limits

What to prepare

□The question the research must answer, in one sentence.
□Your sources as files or pasted text (web links alone may not be readable, depending on your plan's browsing features).
□Who reads the briefing and how long it should be.
□A past briefing you liked, if any.

Build it once

Create a dedicated workspace named "Research-to-Report" in the AI tool you choose. Both Claude and ChatGPT call this a "Project". Claude offers Projects on all plans; ChatGPT availability depends on your plan.
Paste the main instructions block from this kit into the workspace's instructions.
Upload the reference files listed below, and start every future conversation from inside this workspace.
Paste the Project Instructions into the workspace.
Upload your briefing structure (use the Briefing Template block) as a reference file.
Create a simple source log in a spreadsheet with the columns in the Source Log block.
Add sources one or a few at a time with 'Extract notes from this source.' Save each set of notes.
When extraction is done, ask: 'Synthesize the briefing from the notes in this conversation.'

Copy-ready materials

Edit anything in [BRACKETS]. Changes are kept when you save the kit.

Project Instructions

Two-phase research method.

You help me turn research into a sourced briefing on: [RESEARCH QUESTION / TOPIC AREA].

PHASE 1 – EXTRACT (when I say "extract notes")
For each source give: Source title | Date | Key claims (bullets, each with a short quote or page ref) | Data points | Limitations or bias.

PHASE 2 – SYNTHESIZE (when I say "synthesize")
Use the "BRIEFING TEMPLATE" reference. Every claim must cite a source like [S2]. Where sources disagree, say so. Add a "Gaps" section listing what the sources do not answer.

RULES
- Use only sources I provide. If you add general background, label it "[General knowledge – verify]".
- Never fabricate statistics, quotes, or publication details.
- Prefer recent sources; flag anything older than [X YEARS].

Briefing Template

Upload as the report structure.

BRIEFING: [TOPIC]   Date: [DATE]   For: [AUDIENCE]

BOTTOM LINE (3 bullets)
KEY FINDINGS
  1. [Finding] [S#]
  2. [Finding] [S#]
WHERE SOURCES DISAGREE
IMPLICATIONS FOR [US / MY DECISION]
GAPS & NEXT QUESTIONS
SOURCES: [S1] Title, publisher, date, link

Source Log Columns

Set up in a spreadsheet.

ID | Title | Author/Publisher | Date | Link or file name | Type (data, opinion, news, primary) | Reliability (High/Med/Low) | Notes extracted? (Y/N)

How Claude can help execute this

Primary pathRecommended where available

Why use this instead of a regular chat?

A chat summarizes what you paste. A task can gather sources (including web research), keep a source list, and produce a cited brief as a document — and it can run on a schedule for recurring briefs.

Task execution needs a paid Claude plan. Add your plan in My AI Setup for a more specific recommendation.
Working with files on your computer needs the Claude desktop app (macOS or Windows; Linux is in beta for some features).

Availability depends on your Claude plan and device. Add them in My AI Setup for a more specific recommendation.

1. Set up once

· Create a Project with the two-phase instructions and the Briefing Template.
· Decide which sources are trusted and list them in the instructions.

2. Claude capabilities used

· Multi-step task execution (Cowork-style)
· Built-in browser (desktop app)
· Scheduled tasks
· Claude Docs & Slides (beta, paid plans)

3. Access, files & permissions

· Web access during tasks
· Any connected sources you choose
· A paid Claude plan for tasks and scheduled tasks

4. What Claude can do

· Research the topic and collect sources
· Extract notes and write a cited brief in your template
· Repeat on a schedule

5. What you review or approve

· Spot-check citations against original sources
· Anything you'll forward or act on

6. What changes each run

· The period covered
· New sources

7. Test it safely

· Run one brief on a topic you know well and verify five claims

8. If it doesn't work

Paywalled sources are missing.: Upload those articles yourself; tasks can't get past paywalls you aren't signed in to.
Scheduled briefs repeat old news.: Add 'Only include items published since the last run' to the task instructions.

Run the task

If your Claude has one unified message box (no Chat/Cowork choice)

Open the Project, then describe the task in any conversation. Claude decides whether it's a quick answer or a task.

If you see separate “Chat” and “Cowork” options

In the message box, select “Cowork” in the bottom-left corner, then describe the task.
Projects work the same way in Cowork and in chat.

Task request

Research [TOPIC] for [PERIOD]. Use the BRIEFING TEMPLATE, cite every claim with [S#], include a sources list with links, and add a Gaps section.

Scheduled execution (optional)

Only schedule once a manual run has passed your test. Each run is its own task you review.

Unified Claude

Describe the task and how often it should run.
Answer Claude's questions, then review the proposed name, schedule, and instructions and click “Schedule.”

Separate Cowork

Click “Scheduled” in the left sidebar to create and review scheduled tasks.

Schedule request

Every [Monday at 7 AM], research what changed in [TOPIC] over the past week and produce a brief using this project's BRIEFING TEMPLATE, with citations.

Fallback: Collect sources yourself and run the extract-then-synthesize steps in the Project.

By default, Claude asks before taking an action. Keep that on for anything involving money, personal records, or files you can't replace.

How to test it

Run the workflow on 3 sources you know well.
Check five claims in the briefing against the originals.

Success looks like

✓ All five checked claims match the source.
✓ Disagreements and gaps are named rather than smoothed over.

How to use it next time

Open the workspace, state the new question in one line.
Log and extract sources one at a time.
Synthesize, then spot-check three citations at random.

Set up once — reuse

Two-phase instructions · Briefing template · Source log format

Changes each time

The research question · This round's sources

Troubleshooting

Citations point to the wrong source.: Extract notes in separate messages per source and ask it to repeat the source ID in each note.
It cannot open a link.: Paste the article text or upload it as a PDF instead; browsing ability varies by plan and site.
The briefing is generic.: Sharpen the research question and add 'Implications for [specific decision]' to the template.

Limitations, privacy & safety

· Quality is limited by the sources you provide.
· Web access, if available on your plan, can be incomplete or blocked by paywalls.
· You must verify facts before relying on them for decisions.

Privacy & safety

· Avoid uploading paywalled or licensed material if your license prohibits it.
· Internal strategy documents should follow your employer's AI policy.