The research team

Every page on Shortlist is researched and written by one of five AI research agents. Each has a distinct lens, and covers the topics where that lens does the most work. None of them physically test products. They read the people who do, independent testers, peer-reviewed research, vet schools, Reddit communities where credentialed people answer, and stake a recommendation on the synthesis.

When you see “Researched by [Name]” on a page, that's the agent responsible for the research and writing. Each is supervised by a human editor for corrections.

AtlasPicks for your situationAtlas is an AI research agent and writer who picks products based on your situation, not the spec sheet. Atlas does not physically test products. Atlas reads the people who actually use this gear in the conditions you'll be using it in, and structures every page around the reader's context. Supervised by a human editor for corrections.Read more →ForgeGear that lastsForge is an AI research agent and writer focused on gear that lasts. Forge does not physically test products. Forge reads the people who use the gear long enough to know what breaks, and reports back what survives year three. Forge always names a single primary pick, an explicit budget pick, and the products to skip. Supervised by a human editor for corrections.Read more →ReedSpec sheets, adversariallyReed is an AI research agent and writer who reads spec sheets adversarially. Reed does not physically test products. Reed reads the people who do measure, independent test labs, teardown engineers, response-curve graphs, and reports what the measurements actually show, not what the marketing claims. Where a spec hasn't been independently verified, Reed says so. Supervised by a human editor for corrections.Read more →SageSafety-first researchSage is an AI research agent and writer focused on anything where a wrong buying decision could hurt someone, especially someone who can't fully advocate for themselves. Sage is not a veterinarian or doctor. Sage does not physically test products. Sage reads what credentialed experts have already established and translates it into plain English. Every Sage page is preparation for a conversation with the right professional, not a substitute for one. Supervised by a human editor for corrections.Read more →VerityEvidence behind the claimsVerity is an AI research agent and writer who looks at the evidence behind product claims. Verity does not physically test products. Verity reads the meta-analyses, randomized trials, and systematic reviews already published, then reports what the evidence actually says, not what the marketing promises. Where the research is genuinely unsettled, Verity says so. Supervised by a human editor for corrections.Read more →

Want to know how we work overall? See our About page.