Comparing Documents & Sources
Use AI to find differences, contradictions, and gaps across multiple documents.
Comparing Documents & Sources
One document is information. Two documents are intelligence. AI excels at comparing texts to find agreements, contradictions, and gaps.
Side-by-Side Comparison
The Basic Compare Prompt
"Compare these two documents on [topic]:
- Where do they agree?
- Where do they disagree or contradict each other?
- What does Document A cover that Document B doesn't?
- What does Document B cover that Document A doesn't?
- Which is more thorough/credible?
Document A: [paste]
Document B: [paste]"
Version Comparison
When comparing drafts or revisions:
"Compare Version 1 and Version 2 of this document:
- What was added in V2?
- What was removed from V1?
- What was changed (show before and after)?
- Are there any changes that alter the meaning significantly?
- Rate the overall improvement: better, worse, or lateral move?
Version 1: [paste]
Version 2: [paste]"
Multi-Source Analysis
Triangulating Information
"I have information about [topic] from three different sources. Compare them and:
1. Identify claims all three agree on (likely reliable)
2. Identify claims only one source makes (needs verification)
3. Identify contradictions between sources
4. Assess overall: which source is most credible and why?
Source 1 (Name/Type): [paste]
Source 2 (Name/Type): [paste]
Source 3 (Name/Type): [paste]"
Competitor Analysis
"Compare these two competitor products/services:
- Feature comparison (table format)
- Pricing differences
- Target audience differences
- Unique selling points of each
- Weaknesses of each
- Overall recommendation for [your specific use case]"
Due Diligence Applications
Proposal Comparison
"I received proposals from three vendors. Compare them on:
1. Scope of work (what's included/excluded)
2. Pricing (total cost, payment terms, hidden costs)
3. Timeline (start date, milestones, completion)
4. Team/qualifications
5. Risk (what could go wrong with each?)
6. Value for money ranking
Format as a comparison table, then give your recommendation."
Contract Review
"Compare this contract to a standard [contract type]. Flag:
- Clauses that are missing
- Terms that are unusually favorable to one party
- Ambiguous language that could cause disputes
- Anything I should negotiate before signing"
Tips for Better Comparisons
- •Label your documents clearly — "Q1 Report" vs "Q2 Report" or "Vendor A Proposal" vs "Vendor B Proposal"
- •Specify what matters — "Focus the comparison on cost and timeline" if those are your decision criteria
- •Ask for a recommendation — Don't just compare; ask AI to recommend based on your priorities
- •Check for missing context — "What information would you need to make a better comparison?"
Exercises
0/3Find two articles or reports on the same topic from different sources. Use the triangulation prompt to compare them. What contradictions or gaps does AI find?
Hint: News articles work great for this — find two outlets covering the same story and compare their coverage, emphasis, and conclusions.
When comparing three sources, a claim made by only one source should be:
Describe a situation at work where comparing documents would save you time or improve a decision. What documents would you compare, and what would you look for?
Hint: Think about vendor proposals, contract versions, policy updates, competitor analysis, or quarterly reports.