AI-supported search tools are currently undergoing rapid development, and new, improved versions and tools with similar functions are being released regularly. Below you find an overview of helpful AI search tools for your literature search.
Please note that the functions and terms of use of the tools mentioned have changed several times in the past and may change again at any time.
Scite.ai
What is Scite?
Scite is an AI-powered multidisciplinary research tool designed to help researchers and students discover, evaluate, and manage scientific literature more efficiently. The tool has indexed over 1.3 billion citations and collaborates with more than 30 major publishers to offer broad access to scientific literature.
Who can use Scite?
HSLU has a campus license for Scite – all HSLU members can use the full version (HSLU network or from outside via VPN).
What can you do with it?
Scite Assistant
Scite Assistant was specifically developed for academic research. You can pose research questions in plain language and receive evidence-based answers supported by Scite’s unique Smart Citations database, reducing the risk of hallucinations and enhancing the reliability of information. It offers numerous filters and customization options to refine results.
Scite Assistant also offers detailed citation context, allowing you to see the exact text snipped used for each citation and provides direct links to the full text of cited publications. This enables you to verify sources, assess the accuracy of the information, and ensure the credibility of the references through transparent, traceable citations.
Smart Citation
Powered by deep learning, Smart Citation offers you contextual insights from citing papers, indicating whether a cited study supports, contrasts, or merely mentions a scientific claim. This helps you quickly assess how a paper fits within the broader field of study and identify related studies of potential interest.
Additionally, Smart Citation contains information on retractions, corrections, errata, or expressions of concern, ensuring you are aware of any issues affecting the credibility or reliability of a cited work.
Other key features:
- Citation Reports: Scite provides dynamic reports and visualizations to reveal citation patterns, trends, and the influence of specific articles and authors within a field.
- Researcher Accounts: You can create profiles to showcase your research, monitor citations, track conversations with the AI assistant, and connect with peers in your field.
- Reference Check: Allows you to upload Word or PDF documents and assess the quality, accuracy, and reliability of the references they contain.
- ai Browser Extension: A handy tool that allows you to instantly view Smart Citations while reading scientific articles on the web, adding context and reliability checks in real time.
Resources:
Websites:
Videos:
How does Scite Assistant work?
Note:
Remember that AI-supported results should always be critically reviewed and used with caution
Perplexity
- Free of charge, login not necessary, but recommended to save requests.
- Uses its own language model in the free version.
- The text base is the Internet, which is searched using a customized web crawler.
- Perplexity answers questions by summarizing the search results and providing links to the sources.
- Perplexity presents itself as an alternative to traditional search engines such as Google.
ResearchRabbit
- Free of charge, login required
- According to its own information, it is the largest database for scientific articles after Google Scholar.
- Uses search algorithms of well-known scientific databases to deliver suitable articles (citation-based). Publications are suggested based on the content of the articles selected for a collection.
Elicit
- Free, login not necessary but recommended to save requests.
- Based on the GPT-3 model
- The text base is the Semantic Scholar database
- Contains functions designed to support the entire research process, from formulating research questions to summarizing papers, finding search terms, building arguments, and much more.
- You can upload your own articles to use the functions.
Phind
- Free of charge, login not necessary, but recommended to save requests.
- You can switch between different models.
- Aimed primarily at coders.
- Can take on the role of a partner in pair programming.