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AI Research Support

Mapping out how conversational AIs can support research in a university context.

🔍 Finding Sources

How conversational AIs help students and researchers discover, verify, and access reliable information.

📑 Source Discovery

What it does: When conversational AIs answer questions, they often list or link to the sources used to generate the response. These may include:

  • Academic papers
  • News articles
  • Government or NGO reports
  • Authoritative websites

Value in academia: Turns every AI interaction into a launchpad for deeper research. Students and researchers can verify claims, cite appropriately, and explore related topics. It also promotes transparency and academic integrity.

Last updated: Jun 23, 2025

📚 Source Recommendations

What it does: Conversational AIs can suggest a wide range of materials including:

  • Books from academic publishers or library catalogs
  • Peer-reviewed articles from databases like JSTOR, PubMed, or IEEE Xplore
  • Datasets from repositories like Kaggle, ICPSR, or government portals
  • Grey literature such as reports, theses, white papers, and conference proceedings

Value in academia: Helps researchers—especially undergraduates or those new to a field—identify foundational and emerging works. Complements librarian expertise with breadth and speed.

Last updated: Jun 23, 2025

🌐 Open Access Discovery

What it does: AI can locate freely available versions of paywalled content using:

  • Institutional repositories (e.g., arXiv, SSRN, PubMed Central)
  • Tools like Unpaywall or CORE
  • Author-uploaded versions on personal or university websites

Value in academia: Crucial for equity in research, especially at institutions with limited subscriptions. Supports open science and compliance with funder mandates.

Last updated: Jun 23, 2025

📝 Preprint Identification

What it does: AI can surface preprints—research papers shared before peer review—from platforms like:

  • arXiv (physics, computer science, math)
  • bioRxiv and medRxiv (life sciences and health)
  • SocArXiv (social sciences)

Value in academia: Vital in fast-moving fields (AI, climate science, public health). Helps researchers stay current and engage with cutting-edge ideas before formal publication.

Last updated: Jun 23, 2025

📊 Summary of “Finding Sources” Capabilities

Capability Description Academic Value
Source Recommendations Suggests books, articles, datasets, and grey literature Broadens access to foundational and emerging materials
Open Access Discovery Identifies freely available versions of paywalled content Promotes equity and supports open science
Preprint Identification Points to cutting-edge research not yet peer-reviewed Keeps researchers current in fast-moving fields
Annotation Summarizes, tags, and links key elements of sources Enhances comprehension and speeds literature reviews
Source Discovery Lists sources used in AI-generated answers Enables citation, verification, and deeper exploration
Attribution
Authored by ChatGPT (GPT-5 Thinking) via conversational prompting. Reviewed and formatted for this LibGuide by the editor.
Date generated: Sep 4, 2025  |  Topic: Literature Search Capabilities
How to cite this section
APA (suggested): ChatGPT (GPT-5 Thinking). (2025, September 4). Literature search capabilities [AI-generated content]. University of Florida Libraries LibGuide.
Note: AI-generated content may contain errors. Verify key facts and adapt examples to local resources.