Artificial Intelligence and Research: Home

This guide explores how AI can assist research and highlights a selection of platforms. The guide's focus is on research, not content generation, and provides a limited selection of tools. For a broader list of AI tools, see this link:

Artificial Intelligence (AI)—"The capacity of computers or other machines to exhibit or simulate intelligent behavior." (Oxford English Dictionary, n.d.)

Generative AI—A type of AI technology that generates content such as text, images, audio, and video. Also sometimes referred to as a generator.

Model—An AI software program that has been trained on datasets to perform a specific task.

Large language model (LLM)—A complex model trained on vast amounts of data that generates language that resembles human-generated language. GPT, PaLM, Jurassic, and Claude are examples of LLMs.

Chatbot—A computer program that uses an LLM to simulate a conversation with human users, typically through typed text in a software application.

Machine learning—A technique by which a computer can learn without being directly programmed with rules.

Deep learning—A subset of machine learning inspired by how biological brains are structured. Deep learning uses multiple layers of machine learning for progressively more sophisticated outputs.

Training—This refers to machine learning and deep learning processes used to develop a useful model.

Training data—Labeled data used in the training process to "teach" an AI model or algorithm to make a decision. For example, with an AI model for self-driving vehicles, training data may include images and videos in which traffic signs, pedestrians, bicyclists, vehicles, and so on are labeled.

Algorithm—A set of instructions or rules for performing a computation. Developers typically design algorithms used in AI to progressively iterate themselves, which we can consider a form of machine learning.

Prompt—Instructions entered by users to direct an AI generator to generate an output or complete a task.

Definitions from the "Defining AI and Chatbots" page of the Artificial Intelligence Teaching Guide, Stanford Teaching Commons, and is used under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence

Despite their potential to assist with research, generative AI tools like Gemini and ChatGPT have limitations. They are not substitutes for critical thinking, fact-checking, or original research, and all AI-generated content must be verified and properly cited.

Genrative AI can help with research in the following ways:

• Brainstorming research ideas
• Identifying serach terms and keywords
• Creating an outline for a research project
• Summarizing background information on a topic (remember to always verify!)
• Translating pieces of reserch material

A Few Generative AI Platforms: