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Generative AI & LLMs

Document question answering

Using a document's words and sometimes its layout to answer questions about it.

Example

A user asks an AI to locate the total due on a scanned invoice.

Why people use it

It helps people find specific information inside a document more quickly.

What you'll hear

“Which amount is due on this invoice?”

What this means for you

Check extracted numbers and their position in the original document.

Can you control it?

Sometimes

Sometimes. Your choices depend on the tool and your access. The settings available to an everyday user may differ from those available to the people running it.

Common questions

Can a tool overlook a footnote?
Yes. Small text, unusual layouts and scanned pages can cause important qualifications to be missed.
Can it answer from a scanned page?
Sometimes. The system must be able to read the image clearly enough to find the relevant information.
What if two pages disagree?
The AI may choose one without explaining the conflict. Important contradictions need attention.

Related terms

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