Be aware that the selected AI tools listed below may have overlapping features. Before starting your research assignment, take time to explore their features and functionality to identify the best tools for your research. Always fact-check and verify the accuracy of information you receive.To maximize AI program usability and performance, use effective prompt engineering, which is crucial to ensure obtaining desired results. Craft clear, specific prompts to help ensure more accurate, relevant, and useful results.

AI tools vary in their purpose and capabilities, with some like Perplexity designed for real-time information retrieval and in-depth research support, while others, like ChatGPT, excel in conversation, content creation, or language assistance. Choosing the right AI tool for your research task can make the process more efficient and effective. For example:

• Brainstorming and tutoring — ChatGPT, Claude
• Finding high-quality sources — Consensus AI (academic summaries), Perplexity AI (general inquiries), Semantic Scholar (scientific literature)
  (Note: These tools provide summaries or links to full-text content when available. Access to some full-text articles may require a library subscription, so also search the library's databases.)
• Understanding complex papers — SciSpace, Claude, NotebookLM
• Literature review and synthesis — Elicit AI, ResearchRabbit
• Analysis and Comparative Synthesis — NotebookLM
• Qualitative data analysis — Dovetail, Notably

Tokens in AI language models like ChatGPT (Generative Pre-Trained Transformer) and Claude are the basic text units, which can be words, word parts, or punctuation marks. Tokens determine how much text the AI model can process at once and often influence cost or usage limits. Other AI tools manage usage differently. For example, Consensus AI uses AI credits, while Elicit may restrict usage based on server load, user plan, or resource allocation.

For assistance, set up an opens new windowappointment or inquire at the Library Service Desk.

LLMs (Large Language Models) generate text, answer questions, and assist with tasks like brainstorming, tutoring, and writing help.

⚠️ General Limitations of AI Language Models (LLMs) Applies to ChatGPT, Claude, and similar conversational AI tools.

• Not effective for retrieving actual research articles. Always use the library's databases for peer-reviewed sources.
• Not reliable for generating accurate citations or formatted reference lists. Always verify citations against the original source.
• May produce plausible-sounding but inaccurate or fabricated information — known as hallucination. Always verify outputs against authoritative sources.
• Outputs are influenced by the clarity and specificity of your prompts. Clear, focused questions yield better results.

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ChatGPT opens new windowhttps://chatgpt.com/

Type: Conversational AI, Large Language Model (LLM)
Purpose: Brainstorming, Tutoring, Content Creation, Research Support
Access: Available with or without a free account; a paid plan (ChatGPT Plus) offers expanded features and priority access. Usage caps may apply depending on account type and demand. Uses tokens and limits the number of messages you can send within a specific time frame.

Description: ChatGPT is an AI-powered conversational assistant that generates text, answers questions, and engages in interactive discussions. question-and-answer and conversation-generating tool that provides answers on a wide range of topics. It draws on publicly available sources such as books, articles, and websites to provide guidance, summaries, and help interpreting complex papers and topics. Best used for: brainstorming, concept clarification, outlining, and drafting. Not recommended for: finding articles or citing peer-reviewed sources.

Sample Research Prompts

• "Give me an idea or hot topic that is controversial in the discipline of biology."
• "Provide a list of keywords, subject headings, databases to search, Boolean search strings, or important scholars relevant to [your topic]."
• "What can I search to find articles on [your topic]?" (Then use the library databases to follow up.)
• "Create a sample outline for a research paper on [your topic]."
• "Expand this research idea: [your thesis or research idea]."
• "Explain [complex theory/abstract/concept] in simple terms."
• "Evaluate the logical flow of this research question: [insert your question]."
• "Suggest ways to improve this argument or analysis: [insert your argument]."
• If you have an account, "What do you remember about me?" (Leverage saved memories to personalize responses. Have you checked your ChatGPT saved memories, which influences output?)

Tip: Continue to build and refine your results using effective prompts with clear, specific, and focused instructions and questions.

Limitations & Restrictions:

• NOT effective for retrieving actual research articles
• NOT reliable for generating accurate citations or formatting reference lists.
• May generate plausible-sounding but inaccurate or fabricated information, a phenomenon known as hallucination. Always verify outputs against authoritative resources
• Usage caps apply, especially during high-demand periods.
• Outputs are influenced by account settings, saved memories, and prompt clarity.

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Claude opens new window https://claude.ai/

Type: Conversational AI, Large Language Model (LLM)
Purpose: Research Support, Text Analysis, Complex Reasoning, Content Creation
Access: Free tier available; includes text and image analysis, content creation, and basic web search. Usage is limited in terms of message volume and complexity. Upgraded plans offer extended features and advanced reasoning via Claude 3 (Opus, Sonnet, and Haiku) and Claude 4 (Sonnet 4, Opus 4).

Description: Claude is an AI-powered conversational assistant designed for natural language understanding, content generation, and complex reasoning. It is built with ethical considerations in its design and aims to minimize bias in its responses. Claude excels at synthesizing complex topics, analyzing uploaded documents, and supporting multi-step research tasks across a wide range of disciplines. Best used for: analyzing texts, synthesizing research, outlining, comparing multiple theories, and complex problem-solving. Not recommended for: retrieving actual research articles or generating reliable citations or bibliographies.

Sample Research Prompts:

• "Here is a research article [paste or upload]. What are the main findings and key arguments?"
• "What biases or limitations can you identify in this text? [paste or upload]"
• "Compare and contrast these two theories: [Theory A] and [Theory B]."
• "I'm uploading three sources on [topic]. Synthesize the key themes across them."
• "What gaps in the research does this article suggest? [paste or upload]"
• "Generate a research outline based on this article: [paste or upload]."

Tip: Claude handles longer and more complex inputs. Try uploading full documents or pasting extended text for deeper analysis.

Tool-Specific Limitations:

• Usage caps apply on the free tier, with limits on both message volume and response complexity.
• Unlike ChatGPT, Claude does not retain memory between conversations by default — each session starts fresh unless using the Projects feature, available on paid plans."
• Performance and available features vary across model versions (Claude 3 vs. Claude 4).

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Gemini (Google) opens new windowhttps://gemini.google.com/

Type: Conversational AI, Large Language Model (LLM)
Purpose: Content Generation, Summarization, Basic Analysis
Access: Free; advanced features available through Gemimi Advanced (paid). Integrates with Google workspace tools such as Docs, Drive, and Gmail.

Description: Gemini is Google's AI-powered conversational assistant, designed for content generation, quick summaries, and straightforward analysis. It tends to provide concise responses and works well for users already in the Google ecosystem. However, Gemini can be inconsistent in accuracy, making it less reliable for tasks requiring precision or depth. Best used for: quick summaries, basic content generation, and Google Workspace integration. Not recommended for: tasks requiring high accuracy, nuanced reasoning, or reliable citations.

Sample Research Prompts:

• "Summarize the key points of this text: [paste text]."
• "Give me a brief overview of [topic or concept]."
• "What are the main arguments for and against [topic]?"
• "Help me draft an introduction for a paper on [your topic]."
• "Explain [concept] in simple terms."

Tool-Specific Limitations

• Tends to be inconsistent and unreliable for tasks requiring high accuracy or complex reasoning.
• Integration with Google accounts and Workspace may raise privacy considerations — avoid inputting sensitive or confidential information.

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Copilot AI (Microsoft) opens new windowhttps://copilot.microsoft.com/
Learn more: Microsoft 365 Copilot Tutorial: Beginner's Guide [18:24 mins]

Type: Conversational AI, Large Language Model (LLM)
Purpose: Content Creation, Document Assistance, Research Support, Productivity
Access: Free version available. Copilot Pro (paid) offers expanded features and deeper Microsoft 365 integration. Access your ORU employee or student email account for full functionality.

Description: Microsoft Copilot is an AI-powered assistant built on OpenAI's GPT-4. It is designed for productivity and integrates directly with Microsoft applications including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Copilot is a strong choice for users already working within the Microsoft ecosystem, offering consistent and accurate assistance with document handling, drafting, and task management. It offers less customization and flexibility than ChatGPT for open-ended or creative tasks. Best used for: drafting and editing documents, summarizing content, and working within Microsoft 365 applications. Not recommended for: retrieving actual research articles or generating reliable citations.

Sample Research Prompts:

• "Summarize the key points of this document: [paste text or upload file]."
• "Help me draft an outline for a research paper on [your topic]."
• "Rewrite this paragraph for clarity and conciseness: [paste text]."
• "What are the main arguments for and against [topic]?"
• "Explain [concept or theory] in simple terms."
• "Help me create a PowerPoint presentation structure on [your topic]."

Tip: Log in with your ORU email to access the full range of features, including Microsoft 365 integration.

Tool-Specific Limitations:

• Less flexibility and customization than ChatGPT for open-ended or creative tasks.
• Full Microsoft 365 integration requires a paid Copilot Pro plan or institutional license.
• Features and access levels may vary depending on your ORU account type.

These AI tools assist with discovering research, summarizing scholarly content, and explaining complex concepts.

⚠️ General Limitations of AI Research Assistants & Tools Applies to NotebookLM, Consensus, Elicit, and similar tools.

• Results are only as good as the sources provided or indexed — coverage may be incomplete.
• May not capture the most current research, depending on database coverage and update frequency.
• Always evaluate sources critically and verify findings through the library's databases.

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Elicit opens new windowhttps://elicit.com/

Type: AI Research Assistant
Purpose: Literature Review, Paper Analysis, Data Extraction, Research Synthesis
Access: Free (basic) tier available; paid plans offer expanded credits and features. Usage is governed by a credit system rather than query count or task complexity.

Description: Elicit searches over 125 million academic papers — primarily from Semantic Scholar, PubMed, and arXiv — using natural language queries. It summarizes abstracts, extracts key data points (findings, methodologies, outcomes, limitations), and lets users build custom columns to compare and organize studies. Strong for science-focused literature reviews; users can also upload manuscripts for analysis. Best used for: literature reviews, extracting and comparing data across studies, and organizing research findings. Not recommended for: current research (coverage primarily up to 2021) or humanities-focused topics.

Sample Research Prompts:

• "What does the research say about [your topic]?" (Use natural language to ask a research question.)
• "Summarize the abstracts of these papers on [your topic]."
• "What are the main findings, methodologies, and limitations across these studies?"
• Upload a manuscript: "Analyze this paper and identify key findings and limitations."

Tip: Add custom columns to track variables and compare studies side by side — this is one of Elicit's most powerful features for systematic literature reviews.

Tool-Specific Limitations:

• Paper coverage primarily up to 2021; not ideal for current research.
• Skews toward sciences; less effective for humanities and social sciences.
• Free tier credits limit the volume and complexity of extractions.
• Journal recommendation features not currently supported.

See: opens new windowElicit Tips and Best Practices

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Consensus opens new windowhttps://www.consensus.app/

Type: AI Research Assistant
Purpose: Evidence-Based Research, Literature Review, Peer-Reviewed Search
Access: Free; premium plans available. Usage is limited by AI credits based on search volume and depth.

Description: Consensus searches over 200 million peer-reviewed papers to deliver evidence-based answers to research questions. It generates synthesized summaries across multiple studies, provides key study details (population, sample size, methods, outcomes), and surfaces multiple viewpoints on complex or debated topics. Accepts natural language questions, keyword searches, or thesis topics. Best used for: literature reviews, evidence-based answers, and identifying high-quality peer-reviewed sources. Not recommended for: current research or non-scientific disciplines.

Sample Research Prompts:

• "What does the research say about [your topic]?"
• "What are the arguments for and against [debated topic]?"
• "Find peer-reviewed studies on [your topic]."
• Use the Synthesize option to generate an analyzed summary across multiple papers.

Tool-Specific Limitations:

• AI credits limit search volume and depth of analysis on free tier.
• Coverage skews toward sciences; less effective for humanities.

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Research Rabbit opens new windowhttps://www.researchrabbit.ai/

Type: AI Research Assistant
Purpose: Literature Discovery, Citation Mapping, Research Network Visualization
Access: Free.

Description: Research Rabbit helps researchers discover relevant scholarly literature through interactive visualizations of papers, co-authors, citations, and research networks. Search by keyword, concept, author, or journal, and filter results by citation count or journal impact factor. Particularly useful for mapping a field and identifying key researchers, collaborations, and research threads. Best used for: discovering related literature, mapping research networks, and identifying key scholars in a field. Not recommended for: current research — literature coverage is up to January 2022.

Sample Use Cases:

• Add papers to a collection to generate a visual map of related research.
• Search keywords or concepts to find related articles.
• Filter by date to focus on recent advances within the coverage window.
• Search by author or journal to find specific bodies of work.

Tool-Specific Limitations:

• Literature coverage limited to January 2022; not suitable for current research.
• Visualization-focused — less suited for direct data extraction or summarization.

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Semantic Scholar opens new windowhttps://www.semanticscholar.org/

Type: AI Research Assistant
Purpose: Academic Literature Search, Citation Analysis, Research Discovery
Access: Free; no usage limits or token caps.

Description: Semantic Scholar uses natural language processing to search scientific literature across a wide range of disciplines, including academic papers, articles, and conference proceedings. It provides paper summaries, citation analysis, author profiles, and trend analysis tools to help researchers identify influential works and emerging research areas. Best used for: searching academic literature, analyzing citations, identifying key scholars, and monitoring research trends. Not recommended for: non-scientific or humanities-focused research.

Sample Use Cases:

• Search by keyword or natural language to find relevant papers and authors.
• Use "Related Papers" to discover closely connected research.
• Explore author profiles to identify field experts.
• Use trend analysis to monitor emerging research areas.

Tip: Click "Save" under any article to add it to a new or existing folder for easy organization.

Tool-Specific Limitations:

• Skews toward sciences; coverage of humanities and social sciences is limited.
• Paper summaries vary in depth and quality depending on the source.

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SciSpace scispace.com

Type: AI Research Assistant
Purpose: Paper Comprehension, Text Analysis, Research Explanation
Access: Free; paid plans available.

Description: SciSpace helps researchers understand academic papers through its built-in Copilot chat interface. Ask questions about any section of a paper — methods, terminology, equations, or results — and receive plain-language explanations. Best used once you have already found a paper and need help interpreting its content. Best used for: understanding complex papers and clarifying methods, terminology, and results. Not recommended for: searching for or discovering new research sources.

Sample Research Prompts:

• "Explain the methodology of this paper in simple terms."
• "What are the main findings of this study?"
• "Define [term or equation] as used in this paper."

Tip: Use "Ask Copilot" on any section for targeted explanations without reading the full text.

Tool-Specific Limitations:

• Not a discovery tool — works best with papers you have already located.
• Quality of explanations depends on the clarity of the source paper

⚠️Limitations for AI Search Tools Applies to Perplexity and similar real-time AI search tools.

• Citations should always be verified — linked sources may be misrepresented or inaccurate.
• Real-time web results vary in quality; not all sources are peer-reviewed or scholarly.
• Always follow up in library databases for academic research.

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Perplexity AI opens new windowhttps://www.perplexity.ai/, opens new windowGetting Started

Type: AI-Powered Search Engine
Purpose: Real-Time Research, Source Discovery, Cited Answers, Literature Overviews
Access: Free version available with daily query limits; Pro ($20/month) unlocks unlimited Deep Research queries, file uploads, and advanced AI models. Verified students and educators may qualify for discounted or free Pro access.

Description: Perplexity is an AI-powered search engine that combines large language models with real-time web data to deliver direct, cited answers to research questions. Unlike traditional search engines, it synthesizes information from multiple sources and includes numbered citations linked to original publications. An Academic focus mode restricts searches to peer-reviewed journals and scholarly databases, making it especially useful for students. The Deep Research feature conducts multiple rounds of searching and synthesizing to generate detailed, source-backed reports in minutes. Best used for: finding current, sourced information quickly; exploring academic topics; and complementing library database searches. Not recommended for: replacing library databases or as a sole source for peer-reviewed literature.

Sample Research Prompts:

• "What does current research say about [topic]?" (Use Academic focus mode for peer-reviewed results.)
• "Summarize recent findings on [topic] with citations."
• "What are the key debates in the literature on [topic]?"
• "Find peer-reviewed studies on [topic] published after 2020."
• "Deep Research: What are the major findings and gaps in research on [topic]?"

Tip: Switch to Academic focus mode to prioritize peer-reviewed sources. Always click through citations to verify the original source.

Tool-Specific Limitations:

• Deep Research and file uploads require a Pro subscription for unlimited use.
• Citation accuracy varies — always verify linked sources directly.
• Coverage of specialized or niche academic fields may be limited.

⚠️ Limitations for AI Document Analysis Tools Applies to NotebookLM and similar tools.

• Responses are grounded in the sources you provide — the tool cannot search beyond your uploaded materials.
• Coverage and accuracy depend entirely on the quality and completeness of your sources.
• Always verify insights against the original documents.

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NotebookLM opens new windowhttps://notebooklm.google.com/

Type: AI Document Analysis & Research Assistant
Purpose: Document Synthesis, Source Analysis, Study Support, Note Organization
Access: Free with a Google account; Google AI Pro (with a monthly fee) offers expanded notebooks, more sources per notebook, and premium outputs including Audio Overviews, Slide Decks, and Data Tables.

Description: NotebookLM is Google's AI-powered research and thinking tool that works exclusively with sources you provide. Upload PDFs, Google Docs, YouTube videos, websites, and Word documents, and NotebookLM analyzes them to answer questions, generate summaries, create outlines, and surface connections across your materials. It is grounded strictly in your uploaded sources, which significantly reduces hallucination compared to general-purpose LLMs. One of its strong features is synthesis: comparing themes and identifying recurring themes or contradictions across uploaded documents. Outputs include audio podcast-style overviews, mind maps, flashcards, quizzes, and structured data tables. Best used for: synthesizing multiple uploaded documents, comprehending complex texts, organizing research, and studying. Not recommended for: searching the broader web or finding new research sources independently.

Sample Research Prompts:

• "What are the main arguments across these uploaded articles?"
• "Summarize the key findings of this paper: [upload file]."
• "What themes appear across all my uploaded sources?"
• "Create a study guide based on these documents."
• "What gaps or unanswered questions do these sources suggest?"
• "Generate a mind map of the key concepts in these materials."

Tip: Upload multiple sources at once — NotebookLM is designed to synthesize across documents, not just summarize one at a time.

Tool-Specific Limitations:

• Only analyzes sources you upload — it cannot independently search academic databases.
• Free tier limits the number of notebooks and sources per notebook.
• Premium outputs (Data Tables, Slide Decks, Audio Overviews) require a paid plan.

Dovetail opens new windowhttps://dovetail.com/

Type: AI-Powered Customer & User Research Platform
Purpose: Qualitative Data Analysis, Interview Analysis, Insight Discovery, Research Repository
Access: Free trial available; paid plans required for full features. Enterprise pricing available for larger teams and institutions.

Description: Dovetail is an AI-native platform designed to help researchers and product teams analyze qualitative data from interviews, focus groups, surveys, support tickets, and other sources. It automatically transcribes recordings, suggests highlights, identifies themes, and organizes findings into a centralized research repository. AI features include automated tagging, sentiment analysis, AI-generated summaries, and natural language chat to query your data. It is widely used in UX research, product development, and customer experience work, and integrates with tools like Slack, Salesforce, and Gong. Best used for: analyzing interview transcripts, organizing qualitative findings, identifying recurring themes, and sharing insights across teams. Not recommended for: quantitative statistical analysis or use without human review of AI-generated outputs.

Sample Research Prompts / Use Cases:

• Upload interview recordings or transcripts for automatic transcription and theme tagging.
• Use AI Chat to ask: "What are the most common pain points mentioned across these interviews?"
• Generate a Voice of Customer summary from compiled feedback.
• Use AI Dashboards to visualize sentiment trends and keyword frequency over time.
• Create insight reports with embedded evidence from source transcripts.

Tip: Always review AI-generated tags and summaries against your original transcripts — AI outputs are a starting point, not a final analysis.

Tool-Specific Limitations:

• AI summaries and tagging require careful human verification; accuracy varies.
• Per-user pricing can make team-wide adoption costly.
• Advanced features like AI Dashboards and AI Agents are limited to Enterprise plans.

Blog: AI Vision at Dovetail opens new windowhttps://dovetail.com/blog/ai-vision/

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Notably opens new windowhttps://notably.ai

Type: AI-Powered Qualitative Research & Synthesis Platform
Purpose: Qualitative Data Synthesis, Interview Analysis, Insight Reporting, Research Repository
Access: Free-forever plan available; Pro plan starts at $50/month (includes AI summaries, 50 AI credits, 20 transcription hours); Teams and Enterprise plans available.

Description: Notably is an all-in-one qualitative research platform that helps teams collect, analyze, and share customer and user research. It is particularly strong at the synthesis stage — turning raw interviews, notes, and transcripts into structured insights using a data-driven canvas. AI features include automatic transcription, sentiment analysis, highlight and tag suggestions, AI-generated insight reports, and a library of research templates inspired by design thinking and innovation frameworks. Notably is well suited for academic researchers, UX teams, market researchers, and consultants who need to move quickly from data to findings without sacrificing rigor. Best used for: synthesizing interview and survey data, generating insight reports, and organizing research into a shareable repository. Not recommended for: quantitative statistical analysis or use without researcher review of AI outputs.

Sample Research Prompts / Use Cases:

• Upload interview transcripts or recordings for automatic transcription and tagging.
• Use AI templates to generate insights aligned with frameworks like design thinking or journey mapping.
• Create visual, interactive insight reports to share with stakeholders.
• Query your research data to surface recurring themes and representative quotes.
• Use the centralized repository to search and connect findings across multiple studies.

Tip: Notably's AI templates are built around research frameworks — try them as a structured starting point for synthesis rather than starting from scratch.

Tool-Specific Limitations:

• AI credits limit the volume of AI-assisted actions per plan tier.
• Transcription hours are capped depending on your plan.
• AI outputs should always be reviewed and refined by the researcher before reporting.