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Searching for information using AI

AI tools can be helpful in your studies when you are searching for information for your assignments. It is good to have an overview of how these tools work and what limitations exist to use them safely and effectively.

Different types of AI tools

There are several different types of AI tools. The most well-known, such as Chat GPT and Microsoft Copilot, belong to the group of generative AI (GAI). These tools create text based on probabilities. This means that the tool answers your question with the most likely answer and with the combination of words that are most commonly used. Such tools do not have a database of references to access and can therefore invent sources that do not exist or give you answers with references that are not scientific.

Some AI tools combine text recognition with reference searching in external sources. They are called Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) and include chatbots such as Bing and Bard that search for sources on the Internet. Unlike generative AI, they do not only create answers based on text recognition but also build their answers on texts.

In addition, there are tools that search databases with scientific material and use AI to rank results and interpret your questions, for example, by being able to extract and determine which parts are important. Examples of these are Scite, SciSpace, Elicit, Keenious, and Semantic Scholar.

AI tools can also use citations to find connections between publications, such as Connected Papers, Inciteful, and Research Rabbit.

Some things to consider before using AI tools in your study assignments

  • Is it allowed? Check what applies to the course you are taking.
  • Reliability – Does the AI service you are using provide reliable sources? Are they real or invented/hallucinated? Look up and read the references suggested in the library's search service Primo or in Google Scholar. You can also check if, for example, the journal that the AI service gives you a reference from exists by searching for it in the ULRICHSWEB database.
  • Reproducibility and transparency – Since AI learn from the questions you and others ask it, the services are constantly evolving. The question you asked a week ago may get a different answer today. If your work needs to be transparent and reproducible, it is better to search for information in other ways.
  • Copyright and sensitive information – Text, images, and figures that you input into AI tools are used by the company behind the service, among other things, to train the tool. Consider whether you have the right to share the material you are using.
  • Sustainability – AI tools require a lot of energy. Consider whether you need to use AI or if you can do the task yourself. This way, we reduce unnecessary environmental impact.

Referencing AI Tools?

If you use AI tools, you need to reference them in the same way you reference other sources. If you do not reference, your assignment may be considered plagiarism.
Guidance on referencing various AI tools according to APA:
How to cite ChatGPT, APA Style External link.