Ask the Record

Ask declassified government files direct questions and get cited answers.

Beginner
Screenshot of Ask the Record, Ask declassified government files direct questions and get cited answers

What is Ask the Record?

Ask the Record is an AI search tool. Ask the Record lets you ask plain-language questions about declassified US government files and returns answers cited to the exact document and page, with links to the original PDF. Collections include UAP, MKUltra, COINTELPRO, and Epstein, with JFK next.

Ask the Record is a research tool that lets you query collections of declassified US government documents and get answers tied to the exact source page. Instead of building searches across FOIA releases, Congressional reports, ODNI assessments, and agency archives, you type a question and the system returns a response that cites the document and page number, with a link to the original PDF. The premise is that agencies have released millions of pages (UAP files, MKUltra records, COINTELPRO files, the Epstein files) on the assumption that nobody would read them all. The tool is built to make those pages searchable in plain language and to surface discrepancies without editorializing. The archives are organized into collections: UAP/UFO files, MKUltra, COINTELPRO, and Epstein are live, with JFK listed as coming next. Each new release is ingested, OCRed, and indexed, usually within hours of the public drop, so subscribers can question fresh material the same day. Answers are grounded in the official record: if the documents do not address something, the assistant says so rather than guessing. Every response includes footnotes that point to the specific document and page, and links let you open the original PDF to verify the context yourself. There is also a deep research mode on the Pro plan for multi-step investigations across the archive. The tool suits independent researchers, journalists, historians, and curious readers who want to work from primary sources rather than summaries. It is not a general web search engine or a chat assistant with broad knowledge; its scope is the declassified record it has indexed. You can start without an account (three questions), sign in for a monthly allowance, or pay for unlimited questions and export features. A release alert email list notifies you when new collections or batches go live. Because the corpus is limited to official US government releases, the tool is best for source verification and document discovery, not for open-ended speculation or topics outside those files.

How do you use Ask the Record?

  1. 1Open the homepage and try a sample question
    Go to asktherecord.com and use one of the suggested questions or type your own into the Ask box. You can ask three questions without creating an account.
  2. 2Review the cited answer and open the source page
    Read the response and check the footnote that identifies the document and page. Click the link to open the original PDF and confirm the quoted passage in context.
  3. 3Sign in to increase your monthly question limit
    Create an account with your email to move from three free questions to 25 per month. The sign-in option is on the homepage.
  4. 4Switch between collections to target your research
    Choose the collection that matches your question, such as UAP, MKUltra, COINTELPRO, or Epstein, so the answer is drawn from the right set of documents.
  5. 5Upgrade to Pro for unlimited questions and deep research
    If you need more than the monthly allowance, subscribe to Pro for unlimited questions, multi-step deep research, and PDF export of answers with citations.
  6. 6Sign up for release alerts
    Enter your email in the release alerts section to get a brief when new declassifications are indexed, including what changed and where to start.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Answers are footnoted to the specific document and page, with links to the original PDF for verification.AI
  • Covers major declassified collections (UAP, MKUltra, COINTELPRO, Epstein) in one place.AI
  • New releases are indexed within hours, so the corpus stays current with agency publications.AI
  • Free tier allows three questions without signup, plus 25 per month with email sign-in.AI
  • The assistant states when the record does not address a question instead of inventing an answer.AI

Cons

  • Only covers official US government releases; topics outside those files are out of scope.AI
  • Requires a paid Pro subscription for unlimited questions and PDF export of answers.AI
  • The JFK collection is not yet available, which limits coverage for that major area.AI
  • No integrations with external research tools or citation managers are mentioned.AI
  • Deep research mode is locked behind the Pro plan, so free users cannot run multi-step investigations.AI

How much does Ask the Record cost?

Free trial

No time-limited trial is described. The free tier provides 3 questions without signup and 25 questions per month with email sign-in.

Learn more

Pricing

Free plan: 3 questions without signup, 25 questions per month with email sign-in, full citations, and access to every live collection. Pro plan: $7 per month for unlimited questions, multi-step deep research, PDF export of answers and citations, and early access to new collections.

Learn more

Support

A frequently asked questions section on the homepage covers document sources, trust in answers, new release handling, independence from government agencies, cancellation, and upcoming collections. No dedicated support page or contact method is listed.

Features

Question answering over declassified document collections with answers footnoted to the exact document and page. Links to the original PDF for verification. Live collections include UAP, MKUltra, COINTELPRO, and Epstein; JFK is coming next. New releases are ingested and indexed within hours. Deep research mode for multi-step archive investigations (Pro). Export answers and citations as PDF (Pro). Release alert emails.

Frequently asked questions about Ask the Record

  • How much does Ask the Record cost?
    Free plan: 3 questions without signup, 25 questions per month with email sign-in, full citations, and access to every live collection. Pro plan: $7 per month for unlimited questions, multi-step deep research, PDF export of answers and citations, and early access to new collections.
  • Does Ask the Record offer a free trial?
    No time-limited trial is described. The free tier provides 3 questions without signup and 25 questions per month with email sign-in.
  • How do you use Ask the Record?
    The walkthrough on this page covers 6 steps: 1. Open the homepage and try a sample question 2. Review the cited answer and open the source page 3. Sign in to increase your monthly question limit 4. Switch between collections to target your research 5. Upgrade to Pro for unlimited questions and deep research 6. Sign up for release alerts.
  • What platforms does Ask the Record support?
    Ask the Record is available on Web App.
  • What are the limitations of Ask the Record?
    Only covers official US government releases; topics outside those files are out of scope. Requires a paid Pro subscription for unlimited questions and PDF export of answers. The JFK collection is not yet available, which limits coverage for that major area.

Status

StatusActive
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Added10/21/2026

Platforms

Web App

Pricing

FreemiumSubscription