Artificial Intelligence and the Information Revolution
How artificial intelligence is expected to affect the academic world, and what are the recommended AI tools for optimizing your writing and research
The introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) to the academic world is reshaping the way institutions engage with information and knowledge. Along with disadvantages such as unreliability, copyright infringement and creative fixation, there are also many opportunities. Using AI tools alongside critical thinking, scientific evaluation, and respect for the original copyrights – optimize the research processes, saving time in reference management, and more.
Recommended AI tools for academic writing and research support:
Tools for proofreading English texts: Grammarly, Trinka.ai and Wordtune are AI-based tools that help in proofreading spelling and grammar errors in English texts.
Tools for literature review and academic reading: SciSpace, Consensus, ChatPDF and Scite are AI chats that allow quick information locating on research topics. Unlike ChatGPT, Bard and Bing, which are based on information from all over the internet – the dedicated literature review tools undergo adjustments by the developers and are based on data from academic journals or directly from PDF files that the user uploads onto them (for example: ChatPDF).
Tools for detecting plagiarism in academic papers: Turnitin (iThenticate) is the best-known software for detecting plagiarism in academic papers. The software is using AI to learn and scan its database of academic works. Turnitin is now also developing the feature of identifying texts written entirely by AI (which is of course considered a copyright violation).
Please note some of the tools (or the options included in them) are for paying users only, and there is currently no institutional subscription to any of the above tools except for Turnitin. Like any other decision considering academic research and writing – using AI-based tools is the responsibility of the user and must be done in accordance with the academic rules.
“The only thing that you absolutely have to know, is the location of the library.”
The library is a place to find knowledge: there is no need to memorize and learn all human knowledge, because the library is an organized and accessible source for valuable professional information and data. In the library, thanks to the print revolution, you can find answers to all your questions.
Today many assume that “the only thing we need to know” is how to ask Google. Soon we might think in terms of AI: you can simply “ask the chat”. This is of course not accurate, and although there are amazing advantages to AI chats (efficiency, availability, accessibility, and personalization) – there are significant disadvantages and even real concerns regarding the basic values of academia and science.
We are living in a time of information revolution in every sense. Here in the academic world, a world of facts, science, and critical thinking – we rely on professional tools for scientific evaluation, peer reviews, accurate data from reliable sources, citation styles and more. The information specialists in the libraries are happy to assist you with any question or request regarding the quality and reliability of references.
Have you tried any of the AI tools mentioned above or any other AI tools?
Contact us and send us your recommendations!
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2024 \ Issue #10 \ Writing, editing and graphic design: Reference & Instruction team (Lior Porat, Ella Bogillo, Karen Dabran & Inbar Dekel-Levinzon)