Theia: An AI Fact-Checker Chrome Extension

Research Context and Background

Theia is a free Chrome extension built to help users verify information from artificial intelligence tools. As large language models become more common, they sometimes make up facts or agree too eagerly with users. Theia solves this by acting as a second opinion for every chat. It connects directly to your browser to check responses from popular AI assistants like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and others. Every claim it checks comes with real sources to back it up.

Benefits

Theia offers several key advantages for anyone using AI tools. First, it includes a live sycophancy meter. This gauge shows how much an AI is flattering the user versus telling the truth in real time. Second, it provides grounded fact-checking. Users can highlight any text or click a button to get a verdict and a confidence score. The tool bases its analysis on primary sources rather than guesses. Third, it is completely free to start. The on-device mode runs locally on your computer without needing a subscription or a credit card. This ensures your data stays private while you get unlimited checks.

Use Cases

Theia is useful for anyone who relies on AI for research, work, or learning. Students can use it to verify facts for essays or projects. Professionals can check data before including it in reports or presentations. Writers can ensure their AI-generated content is accurate before publishing. The tool works with many platforms including ChatGPT, Perplexity, DeepSeek, and Grok. For example, if an AI claims the Eiffel Tower is 200 meters tall, Theia can instantly flag this as misleading and provide the correct height of 330 meters. It helps users navigate the flood of information from modern AI tools more safely.

Pricing

Theia is free to use. The on-device mode runs locally on your device and offers unlimited checks without any subscription fees. Users do not need to enter a credit card to start using the tool.

Vibes

Public reception for Theia has been positive because it addresses a real concern about AI accuracy. Users appreciate that it provides a second opinion grounded in verifiable sources. The ability to see a sycophancy meter helps people understand when an AI might be too agreeable. Reviews highlight that the tool makes AI interactions more trustworthy by stopping users from taking answers at face value.

Additional Information

Theia was developed to hold large language models accountable. It uses a custom-trained model to detect sycophancy and integrates with free public sources like Wikipedia, Wikidata, PubMed, and SEC EDGAR for its on-device mode. This approach ensures privacy and removes barriers to entry for users who want to verify AI claims.