# What grounded means

Why the same question gives a different answer at work than at home.

7 screens, about three minutes. Pictures, almost no words.

## One question, two answers.

*Picture: One large box labelled the same question.*

Asked at home and at work, you get different things.

## One of them has read your files.

*Picture: Two people, one labelled a stranger and one labelled somebody who has read your filing cabinet.*

That is the whole difference.

## It looks in the cabinet first.

*Picture: A box labelled your question with an arrow into a dashed frame labelled what you are allowed to open, and an arrow out to an answer.*

Only in the drawers your own key opens.

## Two colleagues, two answers.

*Picture: Two people side by side asking the same question and getting two different answers.*

Not a fault. It is your permissions, working.

## Always look at the source.

*Picture: A box labelled the answer with an amber box beside it labelled where it came from.*

A grounded answer shows you where it got it.

## Do today

Ask your work Copilot a question and click through to one of the files it cites.

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