UbikUbik

What is Knowledge Work?

Knowledge work is the process of gathering, analyzing, and synthesizing information to produce evidence-based outputs: crafting a thesis, explaining a phenomenon, defending a position, or advancing a theory.

Professional knowledge work spans law, finance, policy, science, journalism, and more. In any field where the final output requires accurate citation, verifiable reasoning, and human decision authority. These domains share a critical requirement: professionals cannot use outputs they cannot verify.

Why AI Fails for Professional Knowledge Work

Despite $30-40B in enterprise AI investment, 95% of organizations achieve zero measurable return from GenAI initiatives. This is not a capability gap. It is an architectural mismatch between how AI systems are designed and what professional work requires.

1

Citation Hallucination

When models need to find information and cite sources simultaneously, they fall apart. Accuracy drops by 20+ percentage points once reasoning and citation happen together. Not because the individual tasks are hard. They can extract facts at 60+ accuracy and find supporting evidence at 60+ accuracy separately. But ask them to do both at once and they collapse to 40% accuracy. The real problem: they confidently generate quotes from sources that don't actually contain those quotes. Professionals end up spending more time verifying AI work than they would have spent doing the research themselves.

2

Calibration Crisis

The best AI systems get only 2-13% of hard questions right, but they act like they're right 70-90% of the time. That's not a glitch. That's the system confidently telling you wrong answers as if they're facts. Even the best performers, claiming to understand complex problems, are still systematically overconfident. You can't know when to trust them. In contexts where mistakes have consequences, like diagnosis, legal research, and financial decisions, this is catastrophic. A system that admits uncertainty is more useful than a system that lies convincingly.

3

Cognitive Dependency

When AI does the thinking, the thinking part of your brain atrophies. MIT researchers tracked writers using AI: after they stopped, 78% couldn't quote from their own work they'd written minutes before. The control group? Only 11% had the same problem. Worse: when AI assistance improved writing quality, users actually felt less ownership and less satisfied. At the organizational level, 95% of companies deploying AI reported zero business return. Autonomy didn't increase. It vanished. The systems optimized to replace human judgment are actually destroying the expertise they're supposed to amplify.

Quality control is the new bottleneck.

When generated text arrives without verifiable citations and poor quality writing, AI tools create more work for experts and professionals while devaluing the necessary skills humans need to collaborate with AI effectively. Ubik takes a different approach.

Runs Locally

Ubik is an AI studio that runs entirely on your device. Agents work from digital clones of your local files. Your originals stay safe, output stays contextually grounded, and nothing gets uploaded to the cloud.

Pinpoint Accuracy

Ubik generates verifiable, cited output with traceable linking to a specific source, page, and sentence inside your workspace. Not a passage or general bounding box. Exact, clickable citations you can verify.

Built to Assist

Ubik gives you sourced evidence, structured notes, and verified references: building blocks for your own conclusions and professional judgment, not a finished answer you have to blindly trust.

Use Cases by Field

Explore how Ubik supports knowledge work across industries. Each field includes real workflow examples with prompts that demonstrate traceable generation, citation accuracy, and human-in-the-loop verification.

Professional Research

The broadest use case for Ubik. Any time you need to gather sources, synthesize findings, and produce defensible, cited output. Consultants, analysts, researchers, and anyone who gets paid to be right.

Source Synthesis

Gather findings across PDFs, reports, and datasets into structured, cited notes.

Report Drafting

Generate cited first drafts where every claim traces back to a specific source and page.

Evidence Verification

Check that your claims are actually supported by your sources before you ship.

Example prompts

1

Find the key findings across @genai-adoption-survey-2025.pdf, @mckinsey-enterprise-ai-report.pdf, and the other reports in this workspace. Create atomic notes for each finding with page references I can verify before building the brief.

2

Generate a synthesis table showing where @state-of-ai-business-2025.pdf and @gartner-hype-cycle-2025.pdf agree and disagree on ROI timelines. Include exact quotes with citations so the client can see the evidence.

3

Help me draft an executive summary from these notes. Every claim needs a [source, page] citation. I need to defend this in a stakeholder meeting.

Example prompts

1

Extract the key evaluation metrics from @vendor-a-assessment.pdf, @vendor-b-assessment.pdf, and the 6 other reports in this folder. I need exact figures with page references for my comparison matrix.

2

Flag any contradictions between @vendor-a-whitepaper.pdf and @independent-benchmark-results.pdf. I need exact quotes from both sides.

3

Draft the recommendation section using evidence from all 8 evaluation reports. Every point needs a source link so the decision committee can audit the reasoning.

Example prompts

1

My @draft-deliverable-v3.pdf cites 15 statistics. Check each one against the source documents in this workspace and flag any that don't match what the original says.

2

Find where @final-report-draft.pdf makes claims that aren't supported by any uploaded source. I'd rather catch unsupported assertions now than in review.

3

Build an evidence audit trail for @client-brief-q4.pdf. Map each major claim to its supporting source, page, and exact passage so we have full traceability.

Example prompts

1

I'm drafting a white paper on workforce automation. Help me outline it using evidence from @bls-employment-projections.pdf, @world-economic-forum-future-of-jobs.pdf, and my other 28 uploaded sources.

2

Generate a first draft of the "Current State" section using @automation-trends-2025.pdf and @labor-market-analysis.pdf. Every factual claim needs a source citation I can verify.

3

Review @white-paper-draft-v2.pdf and flag any places where I'm making claims that go beyond what my sources actually say. I want this to be bulletproof before review.

Financial Research

Investment analysis, due diligence, and regulatory compliance with auditable documentation. Equity research, M&A, risk assessment, and ESG scoring where every number needs a source.

Investment Analysis

Research companies with verified data and traceable theses.

Risk Assessment

Evaluate exposure with documented sources and audit trails.

Regulatory Filings

Prepare compliant documents with exact citations.

Example prompts

1

Extract key financial metrics from @target-co-10k-2024.pdf and @target-co-10q-q3.pdf. Build a time series with exact figures and page references for the model.

2

Analyze management commentary across @earnings-call-q1.pdf, @earnings-call-q2.pdf, and @earnings-call-q3.pdf. Pull exact quotes about guidance I can cite in the research note.

3

Find risk factors in @target-co-10k-2024.pdf. Create a risk matrix with specific disclosure language and page citations for compliance review.

Example prompts

1

Review @target-audited-financials-2024.pdf and @target-unaudited-interim.pdf for material discrepancies. Flag concerns with exact line items and document references for the deal team.

2

Compare representations in @stock-purchase-agreement-draft.pdf against @target-audited-financials-2024.pdf. Build an evidence checklist with specific page citations.

3

Search @target-material-contracts/ for change-of-control provisions. Extract exact language with document IDs for the legal review summary.

Example prompts

1

Analyze concentration risks across @portfolio-holdings-q4.pdf and @sector-exposure-report.pdf. Calculate exposures with exact data sources cited for the risk committee.

2

Extract stress test assumptions from @fed-ccar-guidelines-2024.pdf. I need specific parameters with page references for our scenario modeling.

3

Compare our risk metrics in @internal-risk-report.pdf against industry benchmarks from @peer-comparison-data.pdf. Create an evidence-backed peer comparison for the board.

Example prompts

1

Analyze sustainability disclosures from @company-esg-report-2024.pdf and @cdp-climate-response.pdf. Build an ESG assessment with exact data points and page citations.

2

Compare claims in @company-esg-report-2024.pdf against third-party ratings in @msci-esg-rating.pdf and @sustainalytics-report.pdf. Flag discrepancies with specific evidence.

3

Verify carbon emission data from @scope-1-2-3-disclosures.pdf. I need source citations for every metric in our ESG model.

Consulting & Advisory

Strategy decks, client deliverables, and expert advisory work. When your recommendations need to hold up under scrutiny and every insight needs a traceable evidence base.

Strategy Development

Build data-backed strategic recommendations with cited evidence from multiple sources.

Client Deliverables

Produce presentation-ready research with verifiable claims and source trails.

Expert Benchmarking

Compare performance metrics across industries with documented methodology.

Example prompts

1

I need to build a market entry strategy from @bain-industry-analysis.pdf, @local-market-data.pdf, and @competitor-landscape-report.pdf. Extract the key data points with page references I can cite in slides.

2

Compare market sizing estimates across @gartner-forecast.pdf and @idc-market-tracker.pdf. Build a reconciliation table with exact figures and source citations so the partner can see where numbers diverge.

3

Draft a "Risks & Mitigations" section for the strategy deck. Every risk needs to cite specific evidence from our uploaded reports. No generic assertions.

Example prompts

1

Review @target-company-financials.pdf, @management-presentation.pdf, and @customer-concentration-data.pdf. Flag anything that contradicts the seller's claims with exact page references.

2

Build a commercial due diligence summary from these 15 industry reports. Every market claim needs a [source, page] citation the deal team can verify.

3

Compare the growth projections in @management-presentation.pdf against independent data in @industry-benchmarks-2024.pdf. Show me where management is being optimistic vs. realistic.

Example prompts

1

Help me build the evidence base for my expert report. Extract relevant findings from @peer-reviewed-studies/ and create a cited summary I can reference in testimony.

2

Cross-reference the opposing expert's claims in @opposing-expert-report.pdf against the data in my uploaded studies. Flag any misrepresentations with exact quotes from both sources.

3

Draft the methodology section of my report using evidence from @industry-standard-guidelines.pdf. Every methodological choice needs a citation I can defend under cross-examination.

Example prompts

1

Extract operational metrics from @client-performance-data.pdf and compare against benchmarks in @mckinsey-operations-report.pdf and @industry-kpi-database.pdf.

2

Find best practices in @case-studies/ that are relevant to our client's situation. I need specific examples with citations showing measurable outcomes.

3

Build a gap analysis showing where @client-performance-data.pdf falls below industry benchmarks. Cite the specific benchmark source and page for each metric.

Business Intelligence

Market research, competitive analysis, and strategic planning. Turn analyst reports, customer data, and industry publications into defensible business decisions.

Market Research

Analyze industry reports with verified data and source chains.

Competitive Analysis

Track competitor activities with documented evidence.

Strategic Planning

Build recommendations with verifiable market data.

Example prompts

1

Extract market size estimates from @gartner-market-forecast-2025.pdf, @idc-spending-guide.pdf, and @frost-sullivan-apac-report.pdf. Create a comparison table with exact figures and page citations to reconcile different projections.

2

Analyze regulatory barriers from @target-market-regulations/ for each target market. I need specific requirements cited for the entry strategy deck.

3

Find unmet needs in @customer-survey-results-q4.pdf and @focus-group-transcripts/. Pull exact quotes with source references for the opportunity assessment.

Example prompts

1

Build a feature comparison matrix from @competitor-a-product-sheet.pdf, @competitor-b-datasheet.pdf, and @competitor-c-whitepaper.pdf. I need exact specifications with source citations.

2

Track pricing changes from @competitor-pricing-archive/. Create a timeline with exact dates and figures for the pricing strategy analysis.

3

Extract customer feedback themes from @g2-reviews-export.pdf and @trustpilot-data.pdf. Categorize pain points with representative quotes I can verify before the positioning workshop.

Example prompts

1

Synthesize trend predictions from @cb-insights-report.pdf, @mckinsey-tech-trends-2025.pdf, and the other 8 industry reports in this workspace. Show where analysts agree/disagree with exact quotes.

2

Map technology adoption curves from @diffusion-of-innovation-data.pdf. I need data points with source citations for the board presentation.

3

Find early signals of market shifts in @techcrunch-archive/ and @industry-newsletter-clips/. Extract specific evidence I can discuss with the strategy team.

Example prompts

1

Review @partner-candidate-10k-2024.pdf and @partner-candidate-annual-report.pdf for partnership viability. Flag risks with specific line items and document references.

2

Analyze @partner-ceo-keynote-transcript.pdf and @partner-press-releases/ for strategic alignment. Extract exact quotes about their priorities with source citations.

3

Build a partnership assessment from @industry-analyst-coverage.pdf and @partner-news-coverage/. Every evaluation criterion needs documented evidence I can defend.

Policy Analysis

Legislative research, impact assessments, and stakeholder briefings. For think tanks, government advisors, and advocacy organizations that need every recommendation grounded in verifiable evidence.

Legislative Research

Track and analyze regulatory frameworks with cited provisions.

Impact Assessment

Model policy outcomes with evidence-backed projections.

Stakeholder Briefings

Prepare defensible briefing documents with source chains.

Example prompts

1

Extract economic projections from @cbo-cost-estimate-hr4521.pdf and @brookings-fiscal-impact-analysis.pdf. I need exact figures with page references for the impact assessment.

2

Compare how similar policies performed in other jurisdictions using @oecd-policy-outcomes-2024.pdf. Create an evidence table with outcome data and source citations I can defend to legislators.

3

Find the assumptions underlying each economic model in @cbo-cost-estimate-hr4521.pdf vs @tax-foundation-analysis.pdf. Flag where projections diverge and cite the methodology differences.

Example prompts

1

Search @public-comments/ and @testimony-transcripts/ for positions on this regulation. Categorize stakeholders by stance with cited evidence.

2

Identify which industry groups in @public-comments/ have submitted opposing comments. Extract their specific concerns with exact quotes for our response strategy.

3

Build a coalition analysis from @industry-position-papers/. Map areas of potential compromise with evidence from each stakeholder's stated priorities.

Example prompts

1

Create a legislative history from @congressional-record-hr4521.pdf and @committee-markup-transcript.pdf. Include bill numbers, vote counts, and key amendments with specific citations.

2

Trace how this regulatory definition evolved across administrations using @federal-register-archives/. I need exact regulatory language from each version for the legal analysis.

3

Map judicial interpretations of this statute from @scotus-opinion-2019.pdf, @dc-circuit-ruling-2021.pdf, and @fifth-circuit-ruling-2023.pdf. Build a case timeline with holdings and exact quotes.

Example prompts

1

Analyze policy outcomes across these 6 countries using @oecd-health-statistics-2024.pdf and @who-comparative-report.pdf. Build a comparison matrix with exact data sources cited.

2

Map the implementation timeline for carbon pricing in each jurisdiction from @eu-ets-directive.pdf, @canada-carbon-pricing-act.pdf, and the other uploaded legislation. I need specific citations and effective dates.

3

Compare stakeholder reactions to similar reforms in @policy-case-study-australia.pdf and @policy-case-study-uk.pdf. Extract exact quotes to support our political feasibility analysis.

Scholarly & Academic

Thesis writing, peer-reviewed publication, systematic reviews, and grant proposals. The formal research workflows where citation standards are non-negotiable.

Systematic Reviews

Survey and synthesize research across papers with traceable citations.

Thesis & Dissertation

Build arguments with evidence-linked claims and automatic bibliography.

Grant Proposals

Construct evidence-based research plans with verifiable source chains.

Example prompts

1

Search my uploaded papers for studies measuring carbon tax effectiveness. Start with @nordhaus-climate-economics.pdf and @stern-review-2024.pdf, then create atomic notes for each finding with page references I can verify.

2

Generate a synthesis table comparing methodologies across these 12 climate policy papers. Include exact quotes with citations from each so I can fact-check every entry.

3

Look at @my-lit-review-draft.pdf and flag any claims that lack supporting evidence from my sources. I don't want anything unsourced making it to my advisor.

Example prompts

1

Map how @bourdieu-distinction.pdf, @giddens-structuration.pdf, and @latour-actor-network.pdf cite foundational theory. Show me the evidence chain from primary sources to recent applications.

2

I'm building a conceptual framework. Help me find contradictions between these three theoretical perspectives, with exact quotes from each to review.

3

Generate a draft theoretical section that synthesizes these perspectives. Every claim needs a [source, page] citation I can verify before finalizing.

Example prompts

1

Identify which papers in my collection cite each other. Start from @seminal-paper-yang-2018.pdf and map the citation relationships to find foundational vs. derivative works.

2

Search Semantic Scholar for papers citing @smith-et-al-2023.pdf, then pull the most relevant ones into my workspace for review.

3

Help me trace how this concept evolved through the literature. Create a timeline of key papers with their core contributions noted and page-verified.

Example prompts

1

Analyze my systematic review notes and identify methodological gaps: what populations, interventions, or outcomes are underrepresented across these papers?

2

Compare the research questions in my uploaded papers against @my-research-proposal.pdf. Highlight where my contribution would be novel vs. redundant.

3

Generate a "future research" synthesis from the discussion sections of my 30 papers, grouped by theme with source attribution.

Journalism & Media

Source verification, fact-checking, and investigative reporting. For newsrooms, freelancers, and media organizations where every claim needs a paper trail.

Investigative Reporting

Build evidence chains for complex stories with verified sources.

Fact-Checking

Verify claims against primary sources with audit trails.

Background Research

Compile profiles from published sources with full attribution.

Example prompts

1

Map corporate relationships from @sec-13f-filing-q4.pdf, @state-incorporation-records.pdf, and @subsidiary-list-2024.pdf. I need exact document references for every ownership connection.

2

Search @related-party-disclosures/ for unusual transactions. Flag anything worth investigating with specific page citations for the editor's review.

3

Build a timeline of executive statements from @ceo-interview-transcript.pdf and @annual-shareholder-letter-2024.pdf. I need exact quotes with dates to verify consistency.

Example prompts

1

Compare @speech-transcript-jan-15.pdf against the official data in @bls-jobs-report-dec.pdf and @census-income-data-2024.pdf. Flag every factual claim and show whether my sources support or contradict it.

2

Find the original source for the statistics cited in @press-release-economy.pdf. I need to verify each number against primary data before publication.

3

Track how this talking point evolved across @speech-transcript-jan-15.pdf, @town-hall-transcript-feb-3.pdf, and @press-briefing-mar-12.pdf. Create a quote timeline to document any narrative shifts.

Example prompts

1

Analyze spending patterns in @city-budget-fy2024.pdf and @department-expenditures-q1-q3.pdf. Flag anomalies with specific line items and document citations for the FOIA follow-up.

2

Compare @building-permit-applications/ against @inspection-reports/. Build an evidence table showing discrepancies with exact document references.

3

Search @court-records/ for relevant case outcomes. Extract key rulings with case numbers and page citations for the accountability story.

Example prompts

1

Verify this expert's credentials in @dr-thompson-cv.pdf against their publication record in @thompson-publications-list.pdf. Flag any discrepancies before the interview.

2

Check if the claims in @thompson-interview-notes.pdf are supported by @thompson-2023-nature-paper.pdf. I need page references to discuss specific findings.

3

Build a source credibility assessment from @financial-disclosure-form.pdf and @conflict-of-interest-filing.pdf. Document any potential conflicts with cited evidence.

Science & R&D

Lab research, technical reports, and R&D documentation. For research scientists, engineers, and technical teams who need to synthesize findings across experiments and publications.

Experiment Synthesis

Consolidate findings across lab notebooks, papers, and technical reports with full citations.

Technical Writing

Draft research papers and technical documentation with verified claims.

Prior Art Review

Map existing research landscape before starting new work.

Example prompts

1

Search my uploaded papers for studies on transformer efficiency in edge deployment. Start with @efficient-transformers-survey-2024.pdf and extract key findings with page references.

2

Compare benchmark results across @model-a-evaluation.pdf, @model-b-evaluation.pdf, and @model-c-evaluation.pdf. Build a comparison table with exact performance figures and test conditions cited.

3

Identify which approaches in the literature haven't been tried in combination. Cross-reference methodologies from these 20 papers and show me potential novel combinations.

Example prompts

1

Review @patent-application-draft.pdf and identify every novel claim. Then search my uploaded prior art collection for anything that could anticipate each claim.

2

Compare our claims against @competitor-patent-us2024001234.pdf and @competitor-patent-ep2023005678.pdf. Flag overlapping claims with exact language citations from each.

3

Build a prior art matrix mapping each of our 12 claims to potentially relevant prior art. I need exact citations so the IP attorney can evaluate novelty.

Example prompts

1

Consolidate results from @experiment-run-001.pdf through @experiment-run-015.pdf. Build a summary table with exact measurements, conditions, and page references for each run.

2

Find where our results in @latest-experiment-results.pdf diverge from predictions in @theoretical-model.pdf. I need exact values from both to discuss at the team meeting.

3

Draft the results section for our paper using data from all 15 experiment reports. Every data point needs a [source, page] citation I can verify before submission.

Example prompts

1

Build the "Background & Significance" section for our NSF proposal using evidence from @preliminary-results.pdf and the 25 papers in my literature collection.

2

Find the strongest evidence that our proposed approach is feasible. Extract specific results from @pilot-study-data.pdf and relevant publications with exact citations.

3

Review @grant-proposal-draft.pdf and flag any technical claims that aren't well-supported by our uploaded evidence. I need this to be airtight before the deadline.

Non-Profit & Grant Research

Grant writing, program evaluation, and impact reporting. For foundations, NGOs, and social impact organizations where every dollar spent needs documented justification.

Grant Writing

Build evidence-based grant applications with cited needs assessments and outcome data.

Impact Reporting

Document program outcomes with verifiable data and source chains.

Needs Assessment

Research community needs with cited demographic and social data.

Example prompts

1

Build the needs statement for our grant using @census-community-data.pdf, @local-health-assessment.pdf, and @program-evaluation-2023.pdf. Every statistic needs a source citation the funder can verify.

2

Compare our proposed approach against evidence in @what-works-clearinghouse.pdf and @evidence-based-interventions-review.pdf. I need citations showing our model has empirical support.

3

Review @grant-narrative-draft.pdf and flag any claims about community need that aren't backed by our uploaded data. Funders fact-check these.

Example prompts

1

Synthesize outcome data from @program-data-year-1.pdf, @program-data-year-2.pdf, and @program-data-year-3.pdf. Build a trend analysis with exact figures and source citations for the board.

2

Compare our outcomes against benchmarks in @sector-average-outcomes.pdf. Show where we're above and below average with exact data points cited.

3

Draft the impact narrative for our annual report using @participant-surveys/ and @case-study-interviews/. Every success claim needs documented evidence.

Example prompts

1

Map other organizations working in our space using @guidestar-data.pdf, @foundation-directory.pdf, and @peer-org-annual-reports/. Show coverage gaps with cited evidence.

2

Identify funding trends from @philanthropy-trends-2024.pdf and @foundation-giving-data.pdf. I need exact figures with page references for our strategic plan.

3

Build a SWOT analysis grounded in evidence from our uploaded reports. Every strength, weakness, opportunity, and threat needs a cited source. No speculation.

Example prompts

1

Create the progress report for @gates-foundation-grant-agreement.pdf using data from @quarterly-metrics/ and @program-logs/. Map each deliverable to documented evidence of completion.

2

Compare our actual outputs against the milestones in @original-grant-proposal.pdf. Flag any variances and cite specific data showing what happened.

3

Build an appendix of supporting documentation. Every claim in the narrative report needs a link to the specific source document and page in our files.

Team Knowledge Bases

Organize institutional knowledge across your team: onboarding docs, internal research, and project history, so nothing gets lost and everything stays findable.

Institutional Memory

Capture and organize decisions, rationale, and lessons learned with source links.

Onboarding & Training

Build searchable knowledge bases new team members can explore on their own.

Cross-Team Research

Connect findings across departments so teams build on each other's work.

Example prompts

1

Organize @project-documents/ by topic and date. Create a summary index with key findings from each document so the team can search by theme.

2

Extract key decisions and their rationale from @meeting-notes/ and @strategy-docs/. I want a decision log the team can reference with exact source links.

3

Build an FAQ document from @internal-reports/. Every answer should cite the specific source document and page so anyone can verify the information.

Example prompts

1

Create a structured onboarding guide from @process-docs/, @team-handbook-v3.pdf, and @past-project-summaries/. Link every section to its source material.

2

Identify the most frequently referenced documents from @project-files/. Build a "start here" reading list with brief summaries I can review before sharing.

3

Generate a glossary of internal terminology from @engineering-wiki-export.pdf and @product-glossary.pdf. Each definition should cite where the term is used with document references.

Example prompts

1

Compare findings from @marketing-customer-research-q4.pdf against @product-usability-study-v2.pdf. Flag overlaps and contradictions with exact citations from both.

2

Build a shared evidence base from @marketing-reports/, @product-reports/, and @engineering-reports/. Map which teams have relevant data on user retention with specific source references.

3

Find where different teams reached conflicting conclusions in @quarterly-reviews/. Create a comparison table with exact quotes from each team's reports so we can reconcile.

Example prompts

1

Extract lessons learned from @post-mortems/. Categorize by theme and cite the specific project and document each lesson came from.

2

Build a searchable risk registry from @incident-reports/ and @project-failure-analyses/. Every entry needs the original report citation so the team can understand full context.

3

Compare how we handled similar challenges across @project-alpha-retro.pdf, @project-beta-retro.pdf, and the other 3 retros. Create a best-practices guide with evidence from each.