how to write a research paper with ai

The best AI tools for research papers and academic research (Literature review, grants, PDFs and more)

As our collective understanding and application of artificial intelligence (AI) continues to evolve, so too does the realm of academic research. Some people are scared by it while others are openly embracing the change. 

Make no mistake, AI is here to stay!

Instead of tirelessly scrolling through hundreds of PDFs, a powerful AI tool comes to your rescue, summarizing key information in your research papers. Instead of manually combing through citations and conducting literature reviews, an AI research assistant proficiently handles these tasks.

These aren’t futuristic dreams, but today’s reality. Welcome to the transformative world of AI-powered research tools!

This blog post will dive deeper into these tools, providing a detailed review of how AI is revolutionizing academic research. We’ll look at the tools that can make your literature review process less tedious, your search for relevant papers more precise, and your overall research process more efficient and fruitful.

I know that I wish these were around during my time in academia. It can be quite confronting when trying to work out what ones you should and shouldn’t use. A new one seems to be coming out every day!

Here is everything you need to know about AI for academic research and the ones I have personally trialed on my YouTube channel.

My Top AI Tools for Researchers and Academics – Tested and Reviewed!

There are many different tools now available on the market but there are only a handful that are specifically designed with researchers and academics as their primary user.

These are my recommendations that’ll cover almost everything that you’ll want to do:

Want to find out all of the tools that you could use?

Here they are, below:

AI literature search and mapping – best AI tools for a literature review – elicit and more

Harnessing AI tools for literature reviews and mapping brings a new level of efficiency and precision to academic research. No longer do you have to spend hours looking in obscure research databases to find what you need!

AI-powered tools like Semantic Scholar and elicit.org use sophisticated search engines to quickly identify relevant papers.

They can mine key information from countless PDFs, drastically reducing research time. You can even search with semantic questions, rather than having to deal with key words etc.

With AI as your research assistant, you can navigate the vast sea of scientific research with ease, uncovering citations and focusing on academic writing. It’s a revolutionary way to take on literature reviews.

• Elicit –  https://elicit.org
• Litmaps –  https://www.litmaps.com
• Research rabbit – https://www.researchrabbit.ai/
• Connected Papers –  https://www.connectedpapers.com/
• Supersymmetry.ai: https://www.supersymmetry.ai
• Semantic Scholar: https://www.semanticscholar.org
• Laser AI –  https://laser.ai/
• Inciteful –  https://inciteful.xyz/
• Scite –  https://scite.ai/
• System –  https://www.system.com

If you like AI tools you may want to check out this article:

• How to get ChatGPT to write an essay [The prompts you need]

AI-powered research tools and AI for academic research

AI research tools, like Concensus, offer immense benefits in scientific research. Here are the general AI-powered tools for academic research. 

These AI-powered tools can efficiently summarize PDFs, extract key information, and perform AI-powered searches, and much more. Some are even working towards adding your own data base of files to ask questions from. 

Tools like scite even analyze citations in depth, while AI models like ChatGPT elicit new perspectives.

The result? The research process, previously a grueling endeavor, becomes significantly streamlined, offering you time for deeper exploration and understanding. Say goodbye to traditional struggles, and hello to your new AI research assistant!

• Consensus –  https://consensus.app/
• Iris AI –  https://iris.ai/
• Research Buddy –  https://researchbuddy.app/
• Mirror Think – https://mirrorthink.ai

AI for reading peer-reviewed papers easily

Using AI tools like Explain paper and Humata can significantly enhance your engagement with peer-reviewed papers. I always used to skip over the details of the papers because I had reached saturation point with the information coming in. 

These AI-powered research tools provide succinct summaries, saving you from sifting through extensive PDFs – no more boring nights trying to figure out which papers are the most important ones for you to read!

They not only facilitate efficient literature reviews by presenting key information, but also find overlooked insights.

With AI, deciphering complex citations and accelerating research has never been easier.

• Aetherbrain – https://aetherbrain.ai
• Explain Paper – https://www.explainpaper.com
• Chat PDF – https://www.chatpdf.com
• Humata – https://www.humata.ai/
• Lateral AI –  https://www.lateral.io/
• Paper Brain –  https://www.paperbrain.study/
• Scholarcy – https://www.scholarcy.com/
• SciSpace Copilot –  https://typeset.io/
• Unriddle – https://www.unriddle.ai/
• Sharly.ai – https://www.sharly.ai/
• Open Read –  https://www.openread.academy

AI for scientific writing and research papers

In the ever-evolving realm of academic research, AI tools are increasingly taking center stage.

Enter Paper Wizard, Jenny.AI, and Wisio – these groundbreaking platforms are set to revolutionize the way we approach scientific writing.

Together, these AI tools are pioneering a new era of efficient, streamlined scientific writing.

• Jenny.AI – https://jenni.ai/ (20% off with code ANDY20)
• Yomu – https://www.yomu.ai
• Wisio – https://www.wisio.app

AI academic editing tools

In the realm of scientific writing and editing, artificial intelligence (AI) tools are making a world of difference, offering precision and efficiency like never before. Consider tools such as Paper Pal, Writefull, and Trinka.

Together, these tools usher in a new era of scientific writing, where AI is your dedicated partner in the quest for impeccable composition.

• PaperPal –  https://paperpal.com/
• Writefull –  https://www.writefull.com/
• Trinka –  https://www.trinka.ai/

AI tools for grant writing

In the challenging realm of science grant writing, two innovative AI tools are making waves: Granted AI and Grantable.

These platforms are game-changers, leveraging the power of artificial intelligence to streamline and enhance the grant application process.

Granted AI, an intelligent tool, uses AI algorithms to simplify the process of finding, applying, and managing grants. Meanwhile, Grantable offers a platform that automates and organizes grant application processes, making it easier than ever to secure funding.

Together, these tools are transforming the way we approach grant writing, using the power of AI to turn a complex, often arduous task into a more manageable, efficient, and successful endeavor.

• Granted AI – https://grantedai.com/
• Grantable – https://grantable.co/

Best free AI research tools

There are many different tools online that are emerging for researchers to be able to streamline their research processes. There’s no need for convience to come at a massive cost and break the bank.

The best free ones at time of writing are:

• Elicit – https://elicit.org
• Connected Papers – https://www.connectedpapers.com/
• Litmaps – https://www.litmaps.com ( 10% off Pro subscription using the code “STAPLETON” )
• Consensus – https://consensus.app/

Wrapping up

The integration of artificial intelligence in the world of academic research is nothing short of revolutionary.

With the array of AI tools we’ve explored today – from research and mapping, literature review, peer-reviewed papers reading, scientific writing, to academic editing and grant writing – the landscape of research is significantly transformed.

The advantages that AI-powered research tools bring to the table – efficiency, precision, time saving, and a more streamlined process – cannot be overstated.

These AI research tools aren’t just about convenience; they are transforming the way we conduct and comprehend research.

They liberate researchers from the clutches of tedium and overwhelm, allowing for more space for deep exploration, innovative thinking, and in-depth comprehension.

Whether you’re an experienced academic researcher or a student just starting out, these tools provide indispensable aid in your research journey.

And with a suite of free AI tools also available, there is no reason to not explore and embrace this AI revolution in academic research.

We are on the precipice of a new era of academic research, one where AI and human ingenuity work in tandem for richer, more profound scientific exploration. The future of research is here, and it is smart, efficient, and AI-powered.

Before we get too excited however, let us remember that AI tools are meant to be our assistants, not our masters. As we engage with these advanced technologies, let’s not lose sight of the human intellect, intuition, and imagination that form the heart of all meaningful research. Happy researching!

Thank you to Ivan Aguilar – Ph.D. Student at SFU (Simon Fraser University), for starting this list for me!

Dr Andrew Stapleton has a Masters and PhD in Chemistry from the UK and Australia. He has many years of research experience and has worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow and Associate at a number of Universities. Although having secured funding for his own research, he left academia to help others with his YouTube channel all about the inner workings of academia and how to make it work for you.

Thank you for visiting Academia Insider.

We are here to help you navigate Academia as painlessly as possible. We are supported by our readers and by visiting you are helping us earn a small amount through ads and affiliate revenue - Thank you!

2024 © Academia Insider

Research Paper Writer

Ai-powered research paper writing tool.

• Academic Research: Write a research paper for your coursework, thesis, or dissertation.
• Professional Research: Create a well-structured report for your professional work, including market research, policy papers, or white papers.
• Personal Research: Draft a detailed essay on a topic of personal interest.
• Content Creation: Develop a long-form blog post or article based on in-depth research.

New & Trending Tools

Wedding toast generator, ai answer science questions, ai text analyzer and highlights.

Have a language expert improve your writing

Check your paper for plagiarism in 10 minutes, generate your apa citations for free.

• Knowledge Base

Using AI tools

How to Write a Paper with ChatGPT | Tips & Examples

Published on August 17, 2023 by Koen Driessen . Revised on November 16, 2023.

A good research paper demonstrates your academic writing skills and knowledge of your chosen topic.

Your research paper should be based on in-depth independent research. However, generative AI tools like ChatGPT can be effectively used throughout the research process to:

• Brainstorm research questions
• Develop a methodology
• Create an outline
• Find sources
• Summarize and paraphrase text
• Provide feedback

Instantly correct all language mistakes in your text

Upload your document to correct all your mistakes in minutes

Table of contents

Brainstorming research questions, developing a methodology, creating an outline, finding sources, summarizing or paraphrasing text, receiving feedback, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions.

You can use ChatGPT to help formulate research questions , brainstorm potential thesis statements , or narrow down a broad subject area to a specific topic that interests you.

However, make sure that the outputs make sense and meet the requirements of your assignment. You can adapt these outputs manually, or use further prompts to ensure they meet your needs. For more information, see our tips for creating effective ChatGPT prompts .

• Generate three possible research questions for a research paper on the following topic: “The role of virtual reality in enhancing training and skill development in various industries.”
• “What are the cognitive and skill development benefits of virtual reality-based training compared to traditional training methods across different industries?”
• “How does the level of immersion in virtual reality training impact knowledge retention and skill transfer in fields such as medicine, aviation, and manufacturing?”
• “What are the key factors that influence the successful integration and adoption of virtual reality technology for training purposes in diverse industries, and what challenges hinder its widespread implementation?”

Check for common mistakes

Use the best grammar checker available to check for common mistakes in your text.

Fix mistakes for free

Your paper should clearly indicate the data collection and analysis methods you used in your research.

You can use ChatGPT to help decide what kind of research you will conduct (e.g., qualitative or quantitative ), how you will analyze the data, and how you will mitigate potential research bias .

Bear in mind that you should be able to rationalize your chosen methodology . For example, you should ensure that it is either a standard methodology in the field or can be justified.

• Suggest three quantitative research methods appropriate to the following question: “What are the cognitive and skill development benefits of virtual reality-based training compared to traditional training methods in the field of healthcare?”
• Experimental Study: Conduct a randomized controlled trial (RCT) where healthcare professionals are randomly assigned to either a virtual reality-based training group or a traditional training group. Both groups would receive training in specific healthcare tasks, and their cognitive and skill development outcomes would be measured and compared. Performance metrics, such as accuracy, speed, and efficiency, could be quantitatively assessed to determine the benefits of virtual reality-based training over traditional methods.
• Survey Research: Design a comprehensive survey targeting healthcare professionals who have undergone both virtual reality-based training and traditional training. The survey could include Likert-scale questions and structured response options to gauge their perceived cognitive and skill development benefits from each training method. Additionally, open-ended questions could be included to gather qualitative insights on specific strengths and weaknesses of each training approach.
• Task Performance Analysis: Implement a task-based assessment that simulates real-life healthcare scenarios, where participants are evaluated on their ability to handle critical situations. Participants would go through both virtual reality-based training and traditional training before being assessed in the simulated scenarios. Their performance in the assessment could be objectively measured using predefined criteria, allowing for a quantitative comparison of skill development between the two training methods.

A clear outline can help structure your paper, organize your arguments effectively, and make your research more efficient.

You can use generative AI tools like ChatGPT to formulate a potential outline to help guide your research. You can be as specific as you like, giving an overview of your research objectives , main arguments, and any evidence you intend to include in your paper.

However, ChatGPT outputs sometimes contain factual inaccuracies. It’s important to check the headings and subheadings suggested in the output and adapt them to meet your needs.

• Create an outline for an academic research paper with the following research question:“What are the cognitive and skill development benefits of virtual reality-based training compared to traditional training methods in the field of healthcare?”The paper will be about 10 pages long.

A. Theoretical basis for cognitive and skill development in training

B. Application of cognitive theories to virtual reality-based training

C. The role of immersive learning environments in skill acquisition

D. Conceptual framework for the study

IV. Research Methodology

A. Research design and approach (e.g., quasi-experimental, pre-post intervention)

B. Selection of participants and sample size calculation

C. Description of the virtual reality-based training and traditional training programs

D. Instruments and measures for assessing cognitive and skill development

E. Data collection procedures and ethical considerations

V. Data Analysis

A. Overview of statistical methods used for data analysis

B. Treatment of data and data cleaning

C. Quantitative analysis of cognitive and skill development outcomes

D. Presentation of findings with charts and tables

VI. Results

A. Presentation of the results of the cognitive and skill development assessments

B. Comparison of outcomes between virtual reality-based training and traditional training

C. Statistical significance and effect size analysis

D. Interpretation of the results and implications

VII. Discussion

A. Interpretation of findings in the context of the research question

B. Comparison of results with existing literature

C. Explanation of how virtual reality-based training impacts cognitive processes and skill development

D. Limitations of the study and areas for future research

VIII. Practical Implications

A. Practical applications of virtual reality-based training in healthcare settings

B. Recommendations for integrating virtual reality training in healthcare education

C. Benefits of virtual reality for continuous professional development in healthcare

IX. Conclusion

A. Summary of key findings

B. Reiteration of the research question and hypothesis

C. Contributions of the study to the field of healthcare training

D. Concluding remarks

X. References

You can use ChatGPT to help find sources relevant to your research. However, it’s important to be aware of the limitations of ChatGPT (for example, it occasionally cites nonexistent sources).

Instead of asking ChatGPT for specific source recommendations, try asking it for recommendations on the types of sources relevant to your research topic. You can also use it to generate a list of relevant keywords to use in your literature search.

• What types of sources could I use to write a research paper on the following research question?“What are the cognitive and skill development benefits of virtual reality-based training compared to traditional training methods in the field of healthcare?”
• Academic Journals: Peer-reviewed journals are valuable sources of scholarly research. Look for articles in medical education, cognitive psychology, virtual reality applications in healthcare, and technology-enhanced learning.
• Research Studies: Seek out published research studies that specifically investigate the impact of virtual reality-based training on cognitive and skill development in healthcare professionals.
• Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: These studies provide comprehensive overviews of existing research on a specific topic, making them a valuable source for summarizing and analyzing the overall evidence.
• Books and Book Chapters: Academic books and book chapters authored by experts in the fields of medical education, virtual reality, cognitive science, or instructional design can provide in-depth insights and theoretical foundations.
• Conference Proceedings: Proceedings from relevant conferences and symposiums may present the latest findings and advancements in virtual reality-based training and healthcare education.
• Educational Institution Websites: Universities and medical schools often publish research papers, case studies, and whitepapers related to medical education and virtual reality training.
• Industry Reports: Reports and whitepapers from healthcare organizations or technology companies exploring the benefits of virtual reality-based training in the healthcare sector.
• Government and Non-profit Organizations: Look for reports and publications from government agencies and non-profit organizations that focus on medical education and healthcare training.
• Online Databases: Utilize academic databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, IEEE Xplore, and ScienceDirect to search for peer-reviewed research articles and conference papers.
• Expert Interviews: If possible, conduct interviews with experts in medical education, cognitive science, and virtual reality to gain valuable insights and perspectives.
• Surveys and Polls: Refer to reputable surveys and polls related to virtual reality-based training in the healthcare industry for additional statistical data.

You can use ChatGPT to paraphrase or summarize text. This can help you to condense sources to their most important points and explore new ways of expressing your ideas.

Alternatively you can use the more specialized tools featured on Scribbr’s AI writing resources page (including Scribbr’s free text summarizer  and  Scribbr’s free paraphrasing tool ) which are designed specifically for these purposes and will give a smoother user experience.

• Provide a short summary of the following text:“One of the most profound applications of VR in healthcare is its use in surgical training. Traditionally, surgical training has relied on a combination of didactic lectures, observation of procedures, and hands-on experience in the operating room. However, these methods may not provide the ideal environment for novices to develop the necessary dexterity and spatial understanding essential for complex surgeries. VR overcomes these limitations by offering immersive, true-to-life simulations that allow surgeons to navigate through intricate anatomical structures, practice incisions, and learn to manage unexpected challenges that may arise during surgeries. This hands-on experience in a risk-free environment not only enhances technical skills but also builds confidence and reduces the learning curve for new surgical techniques.”
• Virtual Reality (VR) has a profound impact on healthcare, particularly in surgical training, as it provides immersive simulations that help surgeons develop dexterity, spatial understanding, and confidence for complex surgeries in a risk-free environment, ultimately enhancing their technical skills and reducing the learning curve.

When you’ve finished writing your research paper, you can use ChatGPT to receive feedback. You can be as specific as you like, selecting particular aspects the output should focus on (e.g., tone, clarity of structure, appropriateness of evidence to support your arguments).

You can also use ChatGPT to check grammar, spelling, and punctuation. However, it’s not designed for this purpose and occasionally misses errors. We recommend using a more specialized tool like Scribbr’s free grammar checker . Or, for more comprehensive feedback, Scribbr’s proofreading and editing service .

• Feedback the above text with regard to appropriateness of evidence and coherence of structure.
• The research paper demonstrates a well-structured and coherent presentation of the cognitive and skill development benefits of VR-based surgical training. The introduction effectively sets the context and rationale, while the literature review incorporates relevant historical and empirical evidence. The theoretical framework strengthens the foundation for the analysis.The methodology section could provide more details on the research design and study selection criteria. However, the sections on cognitive and skill development benefits present compelling evidence, supported by appropriate sub-sections.The exploration of improved patient outcomes lacks concrete examples but effectively outlines potential benefits. The section on challenges and future directions raises relevant points, but suggestions for solutions could enhance practicality.Overall, the paper combines theoretical, empirical, and practical evidence, offering a well-rounded approach. It establishes the significance of VR-based surgical training and concludes with a concise summary of key findings.

If you want more tips on using AI tools , understanding plagiarism , and citing sources , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations, examples, and formats.

• Citing ChatGPT
• Best grammar checker
• Best paraphrasing tool
• ChatGPT in your studies
• Is ChatGPT trustworthy?
• Types of plagiarism
• Self-plagiarism
• Avoiding plagiarism
• Academic integrity
• Best plagiarism checker

Citing sources

• Citation styles
• In-text citation
• Citation examples
• Annotated bibliography

Yes, you can use ChatGPT to summarize text . This can help you understand complex information more easily, summarize the central argument of your own paper, or clarify your research question.

You can also use Scribbr’s free text summarizer , which is designed specifically for this purpose.

Yes, you can use ChatGPT to paraphrase text to help you express your ideas more clearly, explore different ways of phrasing your arguments, and avoid repetition.

However, it’s not specifically designed for this purpose. We recommend using a specialized tool like Scribbr’s free paraphrasing tool , which will provide a smoother user experience.

No, it’s not a good idea to do so in general—first, because it’s normally considered plagiarism or academic dishonesty to represent someone else’s work as your own (even if that “someone” is an AI language model). Even if you cite ChatGPT , you’ll still be penalized unless this is specifically allowed by your university . Institutions may use AI detectors to enforce these rules.

Second, ChatGPT can recombine existing texts, but it cannot really generate new knowledge. And it lacks specialist knowledge of academic topics. Therefore, it is not possible to obtain original research results, and the text produced may contain factual errors.

However, you can usually still use ChatGPT for assignments in other ways, as a source of inspiration and feedback.

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

Driessen, K. (2023, November 16). How to Write a Paper with ChatGPT | Tips & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved September 27, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/ai-tools/chatgpt-research-paper/

Is this article helpful?

Koen Driessen

Other students also liked, how to write good chatgpt prompts, chatgpt citations | formats & examples, what are the limitations of chatgpt, get unlimited documents corrected.

✔ Free APA citation check included ✔ Unlimited document corrections ✔ Specialized in correcting academic texts

• Research Gap Strategies & Tools
• Effortless AI
• Effortless Note Taking
• Effortless Literature Review
• Effortless Knowledge Management
• Free 8-day note-taking course

A complete guide to using AI for academic writing

• by Ilya Shabanov
• February 2, 2024 February 2, 2024
• Academic Writing , AI

ChatGPT has become incredibly versatile for academic writing. It can help you improve your academic writing (while teaching you how), find (real) citations to prove a point, or analyze papers for relevant statements and examples. In this workflow, we will look at three different AI assistants that will get you from a very rough outline to a polished article.

Join the Effortless Newsletter. Receive free tips on note-taking, literature review, AI tools, and other productivity topics specifically tailored for academics and students.

But first, a disclaimer: AI will not write the paper for you . Academic writing is very niche, especially if you are writing on a grad/postgrad level, and AI is not good enough for this. At its core, a large language model, like ChatGPT, operates by predicting the most probable next word given a prompt. The result, therefore, is quite often predictable. It excels in extracting information from massive texts, paraphrasing, and finding patterns in language. This is what we are going to use to our advantage!

The general AI writing workflow is as follows:

• Start with an outline generated from your notes.
• Use Consensus GPT to find citations as evidence for single statements.
• Use Ai PDF GPT to extract concise statements from these PDFs that we can use as building blocks
• Build a writing assistant to help assemble loose sentences into paragraphs, paraphrase stubborn sentences and analyze finished writing.
• Iterate this loop until your writing is polished and clean
• We will use Litmaps to go even deeper into the literature review process by mixing papers from multiple domains.

If GPTs are new to you, check out my tutorial on creating customGPTs or go all the way down the rabbit hole by joining my course on GPTs :

Achieve 10x efficiency in research, learning, and everyday tasks with ChatGPT bots. This course takes you from knowing nothing to using the most cutting-edge techniques most people don’t know about in just a few hours.

Let’s get started!

1. Starting your paper

Let’s assume you understand the subject matter and know roughly what you want to write about. If not, go back to reading and note-taking. This is the foundation of your writing process. Start by simply outlining what you want to say in a simple sentence. This can look like this:

This outline is about 300 words and was later expanded to > 3000 words using the workflow you are about to learn. However, this first step is critical, and you will need good notes. To write a good paper or thesis, you must have a solid understanding of your field. AI can’t do it for you. Start learning note-taking in this free 8-day course or the in-depth note-taking course .

If you have too few bullet points you can expand them using plain ChatGPT ( see this tutorial ). The results are not groundbreaking, but they can help you to think of different aspects of your topic, especially as a novice.

2. ConsensusGPT finds evidence for your statements

Next, we need to find evidence (i.e., papers) that support or reject this point of view. If you already have quite a few in your note collection, you may skip this step entirely or use it as a “backup.” This popular AI assistant is built by Consensus , a tool that helps you discover scientific literature. Allegedly, it has access to over 200 million papers. No single database has all the papers, so be aware of the main limitation of AI: Answers may be incomplete.

Head over to ChatGPT and start a conversation with this assistant. Here is the direct link . You will need a premium subscription to ChatGPT to use this (and all other workflow steps). It is worth it, in my opinion, as ChatGPT is the most versatile tool for academics, and there are countless use cases in your day-to-day work.

Use this straightforward prompt: Find papers that show that [Whatever you are looking for]

Download the papers that you think are relevant to you. Generally, most suggestions will not be valuable, but almost always, there will be one spot-on suggestion. This is what we are looking for. Repeat this process with different prompts to get different results and collect what works.

3. Skim the papers and download what is relevant

Next, we are going to download these papers. In an ideal world, you will read what you find, likely leading to slow writing progress. So, instead, let’s prioritize and automate. Read the abstract and conclusion first. Let’s upload the PDF to MyAIDrive if the paper still feels relevant. We will need this platform to quickly extract information from the PDF with a different AI assistant.

After you upload the PDF and copy the link, head back to ChatGPT and start a conversation with AI PDF GPT . The paper you uploaded might “explore trait-based ecology” (very broad), but what I am looking for are methodological problems (since this is what I am writing about). It might be mentioned only in a few paragraphs. This is where AiPDF can save you massive amounts of time. It will find what you want and give you the section or page number. Now, you can read selectively and decide how and whether you will cite this paper in your work.

Rename the chats to the name of the paper. This helps you to later find this chat and keep the conversation about this paper going.

Some more examples of useful prompts to use with AI PDF:

• Explain how X influences Y according to this paper.
• Extract the key problems and challenges with approach X from this paper
• In which section does this paper speak about X
• Critically state why approach X works or doesn't work, short pro's and con's .
• Find evidence for X in paper
• On a scale of 1-10 how relevant is this paper to ...

I generally use AiPDF to extract information, find relevant viewpoints, and not just summarize it. This helps to form an argument because the extracted data is tied to the argument I am writing about . A summary, on the other hand, is free of context and does not help you as much.

4. Use Litmaps to find more relevant papers

Consensus errs on the side of finding too few papers, in my experience. A better way, therefore, is to use Litmaps . I use this especially when I am trying to bridge two domains. For example, there is a significant body of literature on how plants shift their ranges in climate change and another on predicting where plant species will grow given their traits and the climate. Combining them would yield papers on “predicting ranges from traits and climate.” Google doesn’t find much. However, Litmaps helps me discover these papers swiftly. 

Create an account and add articles by their DOI or title (or export from Zotero). Then click on “Related Articles” to start a search.

This works because Litmaps uses the citation network . So if I add papers on two topics, A and B, into my collection and find related articles, Litmaps will look for papers citing both issues. These will be precisely the papers on the synthesis of A and B, we are looking for. I cover Litmaps as part of my Effortless AI Literature Review course . It is one of my favorite tools for a literature review.

5. Improving your writing with a custom GPT assistant

Now that you have found all the evidence to write the perfect paragraph, you will need to write it. This can be difficult. The easiest way to start is to write a few loose, poorly formulated sentences with citations (from the previous steps) and merge them into a first draft using AI. However, there will be better writing.

Instead, google what good academic writing is and use this information to teach a ChatGPT AI assistant a set of rules for academic writing. You can even add some of your own or your journal’s requirements. Check out this tutorial on building AI assistants , or dive deep into my Effortless AI course if this is your first time building AI assistants. Here are the instructions for “WritingWanda,” my AI assistant:

A few tricks here make these instructions more efficient, like using Markdown and XML for formatting or starting with a role. Note that our bot will have three actions: Rephrase, Analyse, or Join. Initially, WritingWanda had only one task (join) and five rules. But as time goes by, you can keep adding and improving your bot until it matches what you want ideally.

Here is the bot in action. Notice how my sentences are initially loose and incoherent. The AI joins it into an excellent first draft . Now, I can go on and start polishing this to my liking.

Once you have written a paragraph you can use AI to automatically improve your writing. Our use of XML tags and markdown leads to very clear and readable output.

Try out Writing Wanda on ChatGPT . There are no limits what you can build with this technology. The best thing about it, is that you can keep on adding features to your bot and make it more powerful and more personalized to your needs.

This writing process starts with a few notes and loose ideas you want to write about.

• We found evidence for your initial statements using ConsensusGPT
• Where we need to be more thorough, we used Litmaps to find better papers.
• Then we skimmed the papers and uploaded the relevant ones to MyAIDrive
• This allowed us to use AiPDF GPT to analyze these papers, looking for relevant passages and sections for our writing.
• Combining bits of information from various PDFs, we created a “raw” sentence collection.
• Using a writing assistant, Writing Wanda , we transformed sentences into coherent paragraphs.
• After polishing the paragraph manually, we used AI to analyze the result using standard academic writing rules.

The result is a workflow that allows you to write very fast, as you spend most of your time building a logical argument instead of looking for the right papers and juggling words into readable prose.

• Resources Home 🏠
• Try SciSpace Copilot
• Search research papers
• Add Copilot Extension
• Try AI Detector
• Try Paraphraser
• Try Citation Generator
• April Papers
• June Papers
• July Papers

Using AI for research: A beginner’s guide

Table of Contents

From the invention of the first wheel for moving around faster to Galileo observing the cosmos using a telescope, there has been no shortage of instances where scientists have used technology to do their work more efficiently. And isn’t that the whole point? Since human faculties can be limiting.

Using AI for research is no different, particularly in current times where the research landscape is evolving at an unprecedented rate. New scientific domains are sprouting frequently, millions of papers are being published every year , and there are vast amounts of data needing to be synthesized.

This is where artificial intelligence can assist, augment, and even revolutionize the way we discover, conduct, and write scientific research. Generative AI has proven itself to be more than a simple buzzword to the point where it can provide real useful value to a researcher at any level.

How can you use AI for research?

AI has proven itself to be handy in many professional circumstances. In academic research , you can easily fit it into several stages of your workflow. Here are some of the ways you can use it:

Finding and reviewing relevant papers

If you go about conducting a manual literature review, you’re talking about countless days of dedicated effort in search and reading. On the other hand, AI can significantly reduce the time and effort it takes to conduct a literature review.

There are AI search engines in plenty that comb through vast databases of research papers, identify relevant papers, and even summarize key findings. This can help you speed up paper analysis, find trends or gaps in the literature, and discover a research question faster.

Most of these AI research assistants and ChatPDF tools help you discover new research articles based on a more accurate semantic search. Even if you don’t have the right keyword, you will still be able to find the correct papers.

Comprehending academic papers

AI can make academic papers easier to read and understand by simplifying jargon and complex topics in research papers. They can also summarise long papers into shorter reads so that you save quite some time while going through heaps of scientific articles.

Some AI assistants let you interact with papers, meaning you can essentially have a conversation with the PDF you’re reading. You can enter prompts like a simple question to get an answer or even ask to create a presentation. The AI tool will read the paper and give the output.

Academic AI tools are also alleviating language barriers by allowing users to do the above task in their native languages.

Data collection and analysis

AI can automate data collection processes by quickly gathering information by mining large databases. Even more impressive is when AI starts analyzing this huge data. For humans, it would be unfathomable to go through a mountain of data, uncovering patterns, trends, and correlations. However, for AI tools, it’s a rather easy process with less room for error.

Whether it’s data entry or data analysis, manually working with data can be an uphill task. Through AI, you will be able to arrive at more accurate insights faster, which sets a high-quality foundation for your research.

Better academic writing

Language models can assist in better writing regardless of your comprehension skill.

They can help with accurate citations, along with providing grammar and style suggestions as you are writing your paper or essay. This means you can now automate proofreading and creating citations.

AI also solves the problem of stiff scientific writing. Tools like paraphrasers and co-writers give you a great opportunity to instantly improve your writing skills and convey your thoughts in the way you actually wish.

Seamless team collaborations

AI can significantly enhance group projects where collaboration and communication are of focus. Through project management research tools, you can automate tedious tasks, manage documents better, and facilitate better communication by creating common workspaces online.

If you’re working with people from different linguistic backgrounds, AI can help you translate in real-time while you’re on calls.

Instant plagiarism checks

Maintaining academic integrity is a non-negotiable while submitting papers. AI tools can help detect plagiarism or the presence of AI in your writing. These tools scan your work, compare it to an extensive database of academic and online content, and flag potential instances of plagiarism.

Similarly, AI detectors recognize the pattern that AI writing follows and proceed to highlight any instances of such writing in your prose.

Best AI tools for research workflows

Combine the importance of AI in modern-day research life with this huge wave of generative AI and ChatGPT in the past couple of years, it should come as no surprise that there is a host of extremely helpful AI tools for research.

Here are 5 best AI tools for researchers which can be integrated to your workflow:

SciSpace is an AI platform specifically made for researchers that eases research discovery, reading, and writing. It sits on top of a repository of 270 million+ papers and offers a spectrum of AI tools, including a literature review tool to find relevant information about scientific papers and an AI research assistant called SciSpace Copilot to answer questions about any PDF document. There is also a Copilot Chrome browser extension that can help you understand academic articles on any website.

Litmaps is a handy discovery tool that assists researchers in navigating through scientific literature. It generates interactive literature maps consisting of articles related to a specific journal article or research topic. These maps enable researchers to find appropriate papers, connect the pattern between them, and exchange their knowledge about a particular field of study. The tool is both free and paid

EndNote is a reference managing tool that assists you in sorting your bibliographies and references while writing essays, reports, and journal articles. It allows you to create a personal database of references and files, as well as insert references into a Word document and automatically format them in your preferred citation style.

One of the more widely known free productivity software, Notion lets you jot down notes, arrange thoughts, and handle tasks and projects efficiently. During research, Notion can be an excellent tool when you’re collaborating with teams as your team members can comment on the documents, create dynamic content like tables, graphs, etc., and use its AI assistant to complete their tasks.

Otter.ai is a boon while you’re in meetings or recording audio while you work. The AI tool automatically transcribes everything you’re saying and generates live captions during meetings. You can also connect Otter.ai with popular meeting apps like Zoom or Google Meet.

Best practices while using AI for academic research

While AI is predominantly a boon for researchers, all things have their pros and cons. AI is still a technology in its infancy, as experts call it, and it should be treated as such. So before you become completely dependent on it, here are a few things you should keep in mind while using an AI-powered research tool:

Ensure data quality and bias

Before you start to analyze data using AI, take a moment to consider the quality of your input. Because if you feed low-quality data to a machine, you can't expect a high-quality output. That just isn’t how it works.

AI cannot think for itself in the same way humans do. At best, it can learn from everything it has been fed and predict an output. So, make sure your data is premium, representative, and, most importantly, unbiased. Biased data can lead to skewed results and questionable conclusions.

Adhere to academic ethics

To reiterate again, academic researchers are bound by academic integrity. Plagiarism, AI-assisted writing, and privacy regulations are all of the highest priority while publishing a paper.

Thus, it’s always better to ensure your research complies with ethical standards and you use necessary plagiarism and AI detection tools before submitting your paper. How you write a paper is a reflection of who you are as a professional.

Check for hallucinations

While AI may seem perfect at all times, it has its moments that make you question the validity of the entire technology.

Sometimes, AI systems can generate results that seem plausible but are entirely incorrect or generate complete gibberish. There are also times when an AI might give you the correct answer but fake its sources. This is popularly known as a hallucination.

It’s quite obvious how it can be detrimental to your academic research, thus it’s always better to fact-check AI-generated output. Some AI assistants have real citations in their answers now, which helps build trust.

Maintain human oversight

While AI can automate and streamline many tasks, it can't replace human judgment, context, and expertise. And given how AI can, at times, hallucinate or give false output, it’s always better to have your human judgment review everything.

To leave you with

The academic world has undergone a profound change in the last few years thanks to AI. For some, it’s an invaluable resource from streamlining literature reviews to supercharging data analysis and academic writing. For others, it’s a grey area and presents some real concerns relating to academic integrity and watering down of content.

But the fact remains that AI, in most cases does help researchers around the world become more efficient, thus producing good-quality work in less time. As language models develop more and more, the use of AI for research will become even more prominent.

Frequently Asked Questions

AI tools can be used in research for finding relevant papers, reviewing and comprehending complex papers, data collection and analysis, better academic writing, and plagiarism detection.

Some of the best AI tools for researchers include SciSpace, Litmaps, Endnote, Notion, and Otter.ai.

Yes, you can use AI tools to write a research paper. From streamlining literature reviews to supercharging data analysis and academic writing, AI tools can make research more efficient. However, human intervention is vital to provide factual information to the readers.

AI can be used to identify relevant papers, summarize key findings, automate data collection, improve academic writing, and also detect plagiarism.

You might also like

5 outils de revue de littérature pour réussir vos recherches (+2 outils bonus)

人工智能在系统文献综述中的作用

دور الذكاء الاصطناعي في المراجعة المنهجية للأدبيات