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Artificial intelligence tools for information retrieval, research, and teaching

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Artificial intelligence tools for information retrieval, research, and teaching

Welcome to the page that provides updates on artificial intelligence tools for various applications in research and learning processes, with a focus on information retrieval tools.  Requests, questions, suggestions, or to arrange a training session for the Technion or Rambam communities on the use of AI tools for academic purposes, please contact Tal Kaminski Rosenberg  at tal.kaminski@technion.ac.il.

Search Tools Based on Citation Networks

Tools based on the analysis of citation and reference networks of core papers to provide recommendations for similar articles. Based on deep learning and mathematical calculations rather than generative AI.

The tool Research Rabbit has been available since 2021 and underwent a major version update in October 2025, which introduced a collaboration (acquisition?) with the parallel tool Litmaps. Before this update, its use was entirely free; after the update, a premium version was added. Information from accounts created in the original version was transferred unchanged to the new one.

The tool enables users to discover articles on a specific topic based on one or more seed papers that users save as a collection. The recommended number of seed papers to begin with is 5–10. These can be uploaded from pre-prepared sources (including BibTeX files, DOI numbers, or synchronization with Zotero) or searched directly within the tool. It also provides a visual display of connections between papers and between researchers.
To get started, users must create a personal account. The search algorithm is based on the analysis of the articles’ citations, and it may now also include semantic analysis of titles and abstracts, as implemented in Litmaps (in the similar papers option).

Information sources: Semantic Scholar, OpenAlex,Crossref. Over 270 M papers, updates weekly.

Special Features: Synchronization with the citation management software Zotero, email alerts for new article recommendations in the collection, the ability to share collections, the addition of notes to articles, display of relevant information on patents, and additional data from the web. There is also the option to download or upload files compatible with citation management software. Some of these features existed in the original version and have not yet been updated in the new release. An update is expected soon.

Usage Costs: Basic use is free, while a premium version offers advanced features.

Link: https://www.researchrabbit.ai/

A blog post about the new version: Link

Last update: 2.11.25

The tool Connected Papers (developed by Israeli creators) allows the identification of research papers on a specific topic based on one or two seed papers and provides a graphical visualization of their network of connections. Two searches can be performed without registration; further use requires creating a personal account.

Information source: Semantic Scholar.

Special features: A personal account displays the search history (including the graphs) and allows saving selected papers. It is also possible to download a file compatible with reference management software. In addition to similar papers, the tool presents papers in the Prior and Derivative categories (both as a list and as a graph). There is no dedicated mobile app, but the tool is mobile-friendly.

Usage costs: Free for up to 5 searches per month for account holders, with discounted rates available for academics.

Link: https://www.connectedpapers.com/

Last update: 2.11.25

Inciteful enables the discovery of articles on a specific topic based on one or more foundational papers (it is recommended to start with at least 5 papers). No registration is required. It was created by Michael Weishuhn, a computer programmer, as a tool to assist his wife with an academic project.

Information sources: Semantic Scholar, Open Alex

Special Features: The tool allows for uploading and downloading files that are compatible with citation management software. It includes a basic add-on for uploading articles from Zotero to the tool,  to install the plugin click here. Supported also by Zotero Chrome extension.

It provides the ability to identify connections between two articles from different disciplines.

Usage cost: Free

Link: https://inciteful.xyz/

Link to detailed explanation regarding Zotero integration by Mushtaq Bilal

Last update: 2.11.2025

Litmaps enable the discovery of articles on a specific topic based on one or more foundational papers, as well as the creation of a visual map of the results. Litmaps has collaborated with the tool Research Rabbit, which offers a similar style of visualization.

Information sources: For initial search – Google scholar (default), or Semantic Scholar. The tool’s main information sources are Semantic Scholar, OpenAlex and Crossref. 

Special Features: The tool allows for uploading and downloading files compatible with citation management software.  Includes a semantic search algorithm (based on content) as well as a search by authors connections (in the paid version only). It offers the option to receive email updates.  Supports group work (available for paid users only). Full integration with Zotero provided only for paid subscribers.

Usage cost: Partial access is available free of charge (Freemium), allowing searches based on up to 20 foundational papers at no cost. Discounted rates are offered to users registered with a university email address. Users with free accounts may experience significant delays during peak hours.

Link: https://www.litmaps.com/

Link to video tutorial: Video

Last update: 2.11.2025

Pure Suggest allows for the discovery of articles on a specific topic based on one or more foundational papers derived from search results in supported databases.

Information sources: OpenCitations, CrossRef

Special Features: Pure Suggest presents visualizations based on groups or chronological order, and allows users to download a file of the results for use with citation management software. Now it is possible to share a link with the results. More recent updates in the attached blog post.

Usage cost: Free

Link: https://fabian-beck.github.io/pure-suggest/

Last update: 31.10.25

Frontier Chatbots

Chatbots capable of performing numerous tasks through simple language instructions. The features, capabilities, and even the names of chatbots are rapidly evolving and can assist in research in various ways, such as helping with information retrieval, text writing and editing, image and chart creation and analysis, code generation, data analysis, video creation and editing, and more. Some features and models of chatbots are available for free, while others require payment. The best way to work with chatbots is to personal experimentation with the unique tasks of each one. Below are links to several leading LLMs chatbots.

ChatGPT is OpenAI’s chatbot, first released to the public in November 2022, marking the beginning of the global generative AI revolution. As of August 2025, the GPT-5 model was introduced. The new model is designed to adapt its operation to the user’s prompt and automatically select the most suitable model for each task. In the paid plan, users can manually choose the reasoning model and access the previous model versions.
The option to use specialized GPTs for specific tasks such as information retrieval or data analysis is partially available to free users, while the ability to create custom GPTs remains exclusive to paid subscribers.
ChatGPT now offers integration with Google Drive and OneDrive via the file upload tab. The Canvas feature provides enhanced text and code writing capabilities, including the ability to create interactive dashboards, while the Search component enables web browsing. The Projects feature, designed for more complex workflows, is now available to free users as well.
The task scheduling and daily briefing features remain paid-plan only, while Deep Research is now accessible in limited form to free users.
An internal image generation model has replaced DALL-E 3, which was an external tool. The new model enables high-quality image creation and editing, including text insertion. Additional updates include a learning-oriented interface (available to all users), integration with external tools such as calendar and email, and a smart agent capable of performing actions and connecting to tools (currently paid-users only).
Direct in-chat access to third-party applications like Canva, Figma, and others is now supported across all account types. For free users, however, access may fluctuate based on server demand, and apps must be configured in English to function properly.

Link to ChatGPT

Links to Android  and  iPhone apps download

Last update: 3.11.25

Microsoft’s chatbot, previously known as Bing Chat, allows free access to the GPT-4 model, as well as image creation and interpretation using GPT4o model insted of DALL-E 3. It is recommended for use with the Edge browser and is also integrated into the latest versions of Windows 11. There is also a paid model, Copilot Pro, which is incorporated into various Office applications.

When registering with a university email account, users receive commercial-level privacy and access to a prompt library, including the ability to save personal prompts.

Registering with a personal email grants free access to OpenAI’s GPT-o1 model, which features advanced reasoning capabilities.

Link to Copilot

Links to Android and iPhone apps download

Anthropic’s chatbot offers both a free and a paid version with various models available (reasoning option ia available in the paid version only). Claude offers a component called Artifacts, which allows users to view real-time outputs of their requests. Paid subscribers have access to a feature called Projects, enabling teamwork functionality. Web search is available now to all users. It is now possible to upload Excel files for analysis, define a personal writing style, and set fixed preferences in the personal profile. To use the analysis tool it has to be toggled on in feature preview. Integration with various tools via connectors is currently available only for paid accounts.

Link to Claude

Links to Android, iPhone apps download

Google’s chatbot, which was rebranded from Bard to Gemini, is available in both a free and a paid version. It offers strong Hebrew language capabilities and includes image generation features even in the free version.

The chatbot can be integrated with various Google services, such as Gmail, YouTube, and Google Drive. It now also includes a model designed for tasks requiring more advanced reasoning, referred to as Thinking. The Deep Research feature is currently accessible also in the free version for 5 uses per month. Additionally, the option to use and create Gems, which are like bots for specific needs, is now available to users at no cost. An option for assistance in writing detailed prompts is also available in the Gems. In addition, the tool now supports editing and publishing outputs in Canvas, as well as creating audio summaries from files or from Deep Research summaries—similar to the functionality offered by NotebookLM.

Link to Gemini

Tablet/Smartphone use instructions for Gemini

A developer platform by Google that provides open access to Google’s advanced and experimental models. Key advantages include a large context window of up to 2 million tokens and built-in support for saving complex prompts (System Instructions). Drawback: All data is used for training Google’s models (no privacy). Additionally, the system now includes models that can create images, video and sound. 

Link to Google AI Studioo

Elon Musk’s large language model. Model 4 is now available for free with limited usage for free users as well. You can choose the automatic model selector option (AUTO mode), and then the powerful Model 4 will be activated only when truly needed for complex tasks. There is a Custom Instructions setting, including several built-in options, such as a learning mode (Socratic teacher). It allows opening projects and creating tasks for free users too. It enables the creation and editing of images.

https://grok.com/

APP for Android

General Agents and Agentic browsers

Agents are advanced chatbots equipped with deep and autonomous reasoning capabilities, integrated with tools that enable them to perform a wide range of tasks. In some cases, they also involve the collaboration of multiple agents working together toward the final output. Another category includes Agentic Browsers.  

The tool Genspark is a general-purpose “super-agent” that integrates a wide range of capabilities to generate various outputs — from presentations to in-depth research and Excel file analysis. A free access tier is available, offering limited usage (200 credits), which renews daily.

https://www.genspark.ai/

The tool Manus is a general-purpose agent that integrates a wide range of capabilities to generate diverse outputs — from presentations to in-depth research, data analysis, and visualization. A free access tier offers limited usage (300 credits), which renews daily. The tool is also available as an iPhone and Android app.

https://manus.im/app

A new category of tools includes agentic browsers, that is, browsers with autonomous reasoning capabilities able to perform actions across all the open websites on the computer. Examples include Comet Browser by Perplexity and Atlas Browser by OpenAI. It is important to note that these browsers carry unresolved cybersecurity risks, due to the ease with which attackers can take control of them by injecting prompts through websites, URLs, texts, or images. Careful consideration is required when using these tools at this stage—balancing benefits versus risks. Further details on these tools and updates on their safety status will be provided here at a later stage.

Last update: 2.11.25

Guides and Templates for Writing Prompts

Link to the guide

Recommended prompts by Anthropic (the creators of Claude)

Link to the prompts library

The prompts library of Dr. Eitan Molik and Dr. Lilach Molik from the University of Pennsylvania

Link to the prompts library

A dedicated prompt library for teachers, organized by task categories such as assessment, administration, lesson planning, and more.

Link to the prompts library

Microsoft’s prompt library for lecturers, students, teams, and administration.

Link to the prompts library

Microsoft Copilot’s prompt library and guidelines for writing prompts.

Link to the prompts library

A prompt library categorized by various professions, including education, teaching, academia, and medical fields. Free registration is required for access.

Link to the prompts library

A comprehensive prompt library covering various aspects of academic writing.

Link to the prompts library

Tools and Resources for Teaching, learning and content creation

The Brisk Teaching extension integrates with various Google tools, allowing users to create presentations, questionnaires, learning materials, feedback, and more from any online content—such as websites, videos, articles, etc.—as well as from files. Users can also generate materials based on requests (prompts), but this method raises concerns about receiving inaccurate information. The extension is mostly free to use, while more advanced applications require paid plans.

Install the extension in the Chrome browser.

The Diffit tool enables the creation of various learning materials, including questions and summaries from links, videos, articles, and files. It also allows for generating content based on requests (prompts), but this approach raises concerns about receiving inaccurate information (users can request to display the sources used). The free version is limited to texts/videos of up to 2,500 words as a source for content creation. The highest material customization level is available for 11th grade and above, but users can also choose to retain the original material level for higher-level outputs. Materials can be created in multiple languages, including Hebrew and Arabic.

Link to the tool

A tool designed for learning and information processing. It enables the creation of concept maps, quizzes, flashcards, file and video analysis, and content generation (e.g., blog posts or essays) based on the generated material. To build a concept map, one begins by entering the desired topic, after which the information can be expanded using various helpful buttons in the side menu—without the need for complex prompt writing. You can also start working with a free chat or conduct a chat with any part of the concept map. The information in the concept map is based on the model’s training data and does not include source references. Therefore, careful content verification is required depending on the necessary level of accuracy—it is especially recommended for working on familiar topics.

The tool supports 20 languages, including Hebrew, Arabic, and Russian. A basic free version is available, based on the GPT-40 mini model. The paid version offers access to additional models, real-time web data (e.g., Wikipedia, PubMed), and PDF uploads. It also includes many free tools for students to generate and analyze information from text or links (although content verification is still necessary, these tools rely on user-selected material).

Link to Heuristica

Free tools for students

Visual Content Tools

Tools for creating images, infographics, videos and presentations from text. There are many other tools in this category; the selection below was chosen based on ease of use and cost. General-purpose agents and frontier chatbots (see separate categories) also support the creation and editing of presentations and images.

A tool that enables the creation of diverse and colorful visualizations, including text, by pasting relevant text or creating from scratch. Available as a free account with limited credits per month, or more advaned paid accounts. Registration is required (Google account supported). Now enables PPT format export and flexible design: the visualization changes with text changes.

Link to Napkin

Gamma offers tools for creating and editing presentations from a prompt or a file/text. Registration is required (Google account supported). Upon registration, users receive limited credits for basic use, after which a subscription is required to continue. It is also possible to create websites, images, and more.

Link to Gamma

A Chrome extension that generates videos from text and web pages. It also summarizes articles in Hebrew but speaks only in English. Allows up to 100 free video summaries per month. Similar to the NAPKIN tool, but in video format.

Install the extension in the Chrome browser

Example

A tool for creating and editing images and other visual content, based (yet) on DALL·E 3. Registration is required (Google account supported). Includes 15 free credits per month.

https://designer.microsoft.com/

A Microsoft image and video generation tool that enables the creation of visuals using three different models: two developed by OpenAI — GPT-4o and DALL·E 3 — and a new proprietary model developed by Microsoft called MAI-image-1.

Information regarding MAI-image-1 model

A link to the tool: https://www.bing.com/images/create#

Last update – 12.11.25

Search and Writing Tools Based on Text Analysis

Tools based on analyzing large volumes of text to obtain similar texts and/or answer questions.

OpenEvidence is a text analysis tool designed for medical information. In the search box, users can enter their research question (multiple languages supported, including Hebrew) or any other prompt as desired. Each answer is provided with references. Follow-up questions can be asked either based on the tool’s suggestions or user input. There is also an option for deep search (“Deep Consult”) and file upload.

Information sources: Articles from high-impact journals indexed in PubMed (approximately 30% of PubMed content, according to company data—details not available on the website) and U.S. clinical guidelines (specific sources of the guidelines are not disclosed).

Special features: Recently, an agreement was signed granting the tool full-text access to articles from NEJM and JAMA. Results can be shared via a link (must be made public beforehand). Each user’s personal profile stores the history of questions asked. Users can mark queries to receive email updates (currently works only for sessions without follow-up questions). Through the side menu (indicated by three lines), users can access USMLE-style practice questions. Allows patient record management and integration with institutional systems (integration currently available in the U.S.).

Apps: iPhone, Android  

Usage Costs: The system implements a restricted access model for the general public, while offering unrestricted usage to healthcare professionals. Free access can be obtained through authentication with various license numbers, including Israeli MOH numbers. Medical students may register for free by uploading a photo of their student card (via the “other” option. In cases where this identification method is not successful, users are directed to contact the provided email address for further assistance: help@openevidence.com 

Link: https://www.openevidence.com/

EvidenceHunt, developed in the Netherlands, offers multiple modes of interaction. Users can pose questions in natural language via a chat interface (including support for Hebrew input), conduct searches using PICO framework fields or disciplinary categories, or utilize PubMed’s algorithmic search methodology. In the search section based on PubMed’s algorithm, a new option has been added to construct the search query using AI. The chat interface generates summarized information with accompanying references in response to queries, while also facilitating follow-up questions. Additionally, users can make specific requests through the chat, such as alternative data presentation formats (e.g., tabular form) or the reformulation of information into content suitable for particular social media platforms. The search results can be filtered by Impact Factor or sample size and focused on articles related to cost-effectiveness (cost-effectiveness filtering is only available in searches based on PICO).

Information sources: PubMed only in the free plan. The synchronization with PubMed data is performed on a daily basis. Adding personal sources option is for paid users only.

Special features: CSV or RIS files of the selected articles can be downloaded in the paid version only.
Each result includes tags representing PICO characteristics.
You can change the language of the tool’s responses in your personal profile.
After getting an initial answer in the chat, you can choose specific sources and run the response generation again (available only in pro searches).
It is possible to generate tables from the results and download them as a file.
Answer formatting into different styles is available in the paid version only.

Usage costs: Basic use of the chat is free (up to 3 queries per week with advanced filters are also free for non-paying users). There is an option for a paid premium account (personal, teams or institutional). In the premium account, advanced model is activated for more accurate and comprehensive summaries. The search feature is free of charge.

Link: https://evidencehunt.com/

Last update: 3.11.25

A National Library of Medicine (NLM) tool that enables users to formulate search queries in the form of a sentence or paragraph and retrieve sentences or paragraphs with similar content from scholarly articles. The first version of the tool was released in 2018, with version 2 launched in 2025. It is designed to support literature reviews, fact-checking, and targeted information extraction.

The search process is conducted in two stages: an initial filter based on keywords, followed by ranking of the results according to semantic similarity. For sentences, the minimum similarity threshold is 60%; if no matches are identified, the threshold is reduced to 30%. If no matches are found even at this level, the system does not return results. For paragraphs, the minimum similarity threshold is 30%, which may be lowered to 10% if necessary.

Information source: Abstracts from PubMed (over 38 million) and full-text articles from PubMed Central (over 6 million). The database is updated weekly with newly published articles.

Special features: Search results can be filtered according to the section of the article in which the sentence appears (e.g., abstract, introduction, conclusions, and so forth). Entities within the text—such as diseases, drugs, genes, and others—can be highlighted.

Limitations: The tool does not filter out duplicate articles in the results, and the results can only be downloaded in TSV format.

Usage costs: Free

Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/research/litsense2/

Additional Information:

https://academic.oup.com/nar/article/53/W1/W361/8133630?login=false

Last update: 3.11.25

Elicit is a search engine that utilizes semantic search to extract information from articles. Available since 2021. 

Information sources: Semantic Scholar, PubMed – weekly update. Paid accounts also include information from ClinicalTrials.gov. Alerts (available only with a paid account) also make use of data from OpenAlex.

Special Features:

Elicit includes several built-in tools for literature review and data analysis. The basic tool allows users to search for academic papers and extract specific information from them in table format. After formulating a research question, the tool suggests possible improvements to the query. Once the search is run, in addition to the results table, Elicit displays a chat tab for interacting with the papers and another tab suggesting potential table columns based on the research question. Users can adopt these suggested columns or create custom ones.

It is possible to select multiple results from the table and click “Search citation trails” to enrich the semantic search through citation connections—this feature previously worked but is temporarily inactive following a version update and is expected to return soon.

Users can also upload PDF files to a personal library for analysis and “conversation.” The library supports organizing files into collections and detecting duplicates.

Another built-in tool, “Summarize concepts,” provides a list of key concepts on a given topic. Recently, Elicit introduced a Research Report feature that generates a report based on a research question. The report covers a limited number of articles and cannot be edited in the free plan (but can be downloaded as a PDF). In the paid version, users can generate extended reports, edit them, and add chosen papers. The number of reports that can be created per month in the free plan is limited.

Search results can be exported as CSV, RIS, or BibTeX files — available only in the paid plan.
Elicit can sync with Zotero for uploading articles only (configured via account settings, not a live sync).
It also supports article screening for systematic reviews (paid plan only) and offers email alerts for new papers based on past searches  in the paid version.

Usage cost: A free basic account allows article searches (with up to two additional columns in the table) and unlimited concept summarization, as well as PDF analysis of up to 20 files per month. Research reports include analysis of a limited number of articles and cannot be edited.  The dedicated tool for systematic reviews is available only with a paid plan, as are data export and alerts for new articles.

Link: https://elicit.com/

Research reports video tutorial

Last update: 3.11.2025

A tool that offers multiple functions to support the research workflow, including literature review (now including also deep review option), extracting information into tables, and saving it in notes within a dedicated notebook. It also provides concept extraction from articles, answering questions about the articles, and rephrasing content. Additionally, articles can be saved to a personal library. Information can be extracted both from search results and from PDF files uploaded to the personal library on the website. A Chrome extension is also available. Scispace is also available via ScispaceGPT within ChatGPT.

An Agent is now also offered as one of the tool’s options. It provides various capabilities such as data analysis, poster creation, and more. The quality of the outputs still needs to be assessed. Currently, 300 credits are available for free use of the Agent for new users, along with 100 additional credits per month. 

Information source: Over 282 million articles, primarily sourced from the databases Semantic Scholar and OpenAlex (according to a presentation by the tool’s developer). The update frequency is unclear. It offers also an AI writer, but the free plan is very limited.

Special Features: A recommended browser extension. Users can upload articles from Zotero to the library on the website. There is a notebook where users can save and edit texts from the library pages, literature reviews, the articles themselves, or information generated by the tool’s copilot. Premium users can also work in split-screen mode, with the notebook on one side and the article on the other. Each search result also includes a short podcast that summarizes the key points of the article.

Usage cost: Basic usage is free, a paid account is required for more advanced use. 

Link: https://typeset.io/

Link to IOS App

Last update: 3.11.25

ORKG Ask is a tool developed by The Open Research Knowledge Graph (ORKG) project. It is designed for searching and summarizing scientific information based on text analysis. To access full functionality and save search history, users are required to create an account.

Information source: a dataset sourced from the British multidisciplinary open-access article repository, CORE. As of today, the data is updated annually, but there are plans to transition to continuous updates in the near future. The tool’s statistics page provides the latest coverage information.

Special features: The information summary is generated by the Mistral Instruct 7B v0.2 chatbot. After submitting a question in the chat, a brief summary of the topic is provided, along with a table containing various characteristics of the articles, which can be edited as needed. A CSV file with the table’s information can be downloaded. By default, five articles are shown in the results, but more can be added by clicking the “Load more” button at the bottom of the page.

Disadvantage: It is not suitable for searching for very recent information, as the current update is delayed by approximately one year.

Usage costs: Free

Link: https://ask.orkg.org/

Last update: 3.11.25

Consensus is an AI-based search engine where users can enter a free-text question in the search box. It uses semantic search along side keyword search and also supports Boolean operators (AND/OR/NOT). The tool offers features such as information summarization, outline creation, presentation content, and summary tables. There are three modes: Quick (free, up to 10 articles, shorter outputs), PRO (up to 20 articles, 25 monthly credits for free users), and DEEP (up to 50 articles, 3 free credits per month or 100 for paying users). After performing a search, results can be displayed in a table view with columns such as Population, Intervention, and others. In the free plan, only the first three articles are shown in the table.

In the Pro and Deep modes the full text of the paper is analysed if available. When writing a prompt in DEEP mode, it is possible to apply filters within the prompt—for example, to request articles published up to a certain year, from a specific journal, and so on. In PRO mode, users can also search by author name to receive a summary of their work and relevant references. In Pro mode and in deep search, it is also possible to obtain various visualizations, such as citation networks, research gaps, and strength-of-evidence rankings.

Support and focus on medical research:
The search supports MeSH terms and allows users to limit results to medical journals only.

Information source and update frequency:

Semantic Scholar, updates monthly according to Semantic Scholar’s update frequency.

Special Features: The tool got its name from its ability to display the balance of support or opposition on a given yes/no question . It displays, alongside the article title, the answer from the article to the posed question. Enables a “conversation” with a single article for summarization and answering questions (currently in beta, available only for open-access articles, covering approximately 10% of the articles accessible through the tool at present). It is also possible to upload PDF files or locate a specific article by its DOI number by pasting the number into the tool’s search box.  Results can be downloaded in CSV or RIS format. Filters include evidence quality, sample size, SJR ranking, and research field. Recently, filters for study duration and country have been added. The tool allows searches in multiple languages, including Hebrew and Arabic, and provides search history. In the personal profile, users can select their preferred language for receiving information, which currently includes Arabic and Russian, though Hebrew is not yet supported. Search results can also be saved directly into various citation management software, including Zotero. It is saving search history, and now it is also possible to delete the search history or switch to incognito mode to prevent searches from being saved. LibKey integration is available in Cosensus (not applicable for the full text analysis).

Usage cost: A generous free account includes unlimited quick searches and monthly renewable credits for PRO and DEEP modes.

A link to the tool: https://consensus.app/search/

A link to a dedicated GPTs of Consensus in ChatGPT: https://chatgpt.com/g/g-bo0FiWLY7-consensus

Last update: 3.11.25

Perplexity is a tool for obtaining information and answering questions, which indicates within the text the sources it has used. It is now also possible to highlight a section of text, click on “Check sources”, and see exactly where the information was taken from.

Information sources: The tool provides access to information from the internet, with options to refine searches specifically for academic content (Semantic Scholar) or social media data. Additionally, it offers the flexibility to work in an offline mode without internet access. Covers now also patents search.

Special Features: The tool allows users to upload various file types, including images (limited amount per day in the free-tier account). It also enables the creation of Spaces within a personal library (now also available Spaces templates),  with AI instructions, files and websites upload and option to share them with others. A Chrome named Perplexity – AI Companion is also available.

Apps for iPhone, Android

Usage Costs: The tool provides free access to the company’s basic model, Sonar, as well as limited access to Pro Search, which enables deeper searches and longer responses. Users can also access Deep Research and reasoning-based models, such as R1 by Deepseek and O3 mini by OpenAI, with limited queries every day, including within Spaces.  Unlimited access, including advanced models from various companies, is available to paid users, as well as access to a new feature called Labs, which enables project building and deeper research.

Link: https://www.perplexity.ai/

Last update: 3.11.25

ScienceOS (launched in October 2023) is a search engine that uses language model technology to extract information from articles. The name of the tool combines “Sciences” and “Operating System,” suggesting that the company, based in Germany, aims to provide a solution for a variety of research activities, not just literature review. The tool includes a ChatGPT-based interface, resembling GPTs within ChatGPT that “sits” on a knowledge database (using RAG system). For each query, users receive a well-formulated answer supported by citations from articles within the text. SCImago rank is available for each paper. To obtain a list of articles or their citation network, users can click the appropriate button below the response.

It also enables the use and creation of AI Actions, saved prompts for various recurring tasks such as creating presentations and summarizing articles. There are several ready-made prompts, and users can create additional custom prompts.

Information source and update frequency: Semantic Scholar, updated every two weeks to once a month, depending on the update frequency of Semantic Scholar.

Special features: certain outputs received can be saved (along with an automatic option to save the entire conversation) by clicking the star icon. Users can create tables and diagrams and upload up to 4000 PDF files (or RIS/BIBTEX files, or direct from Zotero) for further work. Deep research option is available in the paid version only. Citation networks can be built in the library too. Shareable projects are also available.

Usage costs: A chat based on less-advanced model is available for free, with a maximum of four questions per conversation for free users. More advanced models are available for paid users only. Chat with PDFs is available for paid users only.

Link: https://scienceos.ai/

Link to video tutorials

Last update: 3.11.25

The Scite tool began as a platform that characterizes the sentiment of citations in articles as neutral/supporting/contradicting the cited paper. It later evolved into a tool that also allows article searches and includes a chatbot to assist with text writing.

Main information sources: Not based on a specific database, but on articles for which the company has access to the full text for information mining. Scite has signed agreements with various publishers to obtain access.

Special features: The tool offers a free browser extension that provides information from anywhere on the web, including the number of citations an article has, their sentiment, and whether the article has been retracted. Additionally, there is a Zotero plugin and a tool for checking the quality of references in an article.

Cost: Paid (except for the browser extension).

Tool link: https://scite.ai/

Tutorial video: link

Last update: 2 November 2025

Keenious operates by analyzing the text of an article uploaded to the tool via a PDF file or text paste. The recommendation is based on term similarity, semantic analysis (based on meaning) of the text, the number of citations, and the publication date (newer and more highly cited articles are prioritized). Highlighting a specific part of the text gives it higher priority in the search algorithm.

Information source: OpenAlex

Special features: It offers add-ons for Word and Google Docs and ensures user privacy.

Usage costs: A free basic account allows access to 10 results, 5 AI responses per conversation, 10 conversations per day and
3 MB max file upload size.

Link: https://keenious.com/?landing

Additional information, Video tutorial

Last update: 3.11.25

The Dimensions database has introduced the option to receive an AI-generated summary alongside each article in the search results. In addition to a brief summary, users also receive key insights and a list of keywords. Dimensions is also accessible via the Dimensions Research GPT inside ChatGPT.

Usage costs: Free

Link: Dimensions

Additional Information

Edison (formerly Futurehouse Platform) is a platform that includes several dedicated AI agents for research and development.

Platform Components:

  • Kosmos – a powerful agent that produces publication-ready reports. Available only to premium subscribers.

  • Agents available to all users:

    • Literature Agent – a search and analysis agent for papers, trials, and patents (formerly called Crow and Falcon).

    • Analysis Agent – enables large-scale import and analysis of complex datasets to test hypotheses.

    • Molecules Agent – designs syntheses and creates new molecules using cheminformatics tools.

    • Precedent Agent – checks research novelty and identifies related work (formerly Owl / HasAnyone).

Data Sources and Update Frequency: The tool covers approximately 150 million papers and preprints from open and publicly accessible web sources only. It does not index any specific database, and the update frequency is not specified.

Usage Cost: Users receive 10 free monthly credits for the standard agents (literature review and data analysis). Users who register with an academic email address (ending in .EDU) are granted 650 complimentary credits for the advanced Kosmos model, valid for the first month following registration.

Links

Last updated: November 12, 2025

 
 

Undermind.ai is a tool for searching scientific information based on deep search technology and text analysis.

Information source: Semantic Scholar.

Special features: The search is carried out using Deep Search technology in multiple stages and takes several minutes. Before the search begins, the tool’s  agent assists in building a precise search query. The results are organized into categories by topic, timeline, foundational articles in the field, and articles developed based on them. After the search, it is possible to interact with the results via chat, including ready-made prompts for common questions. Search results can be shared and downloaded as a PDF file. RIS or BibTeX files can only be downloaded with a paid account. Email alerts about new articles matching the queries are sent once a month by default and can be disabled if needed.

Usage costs: The Pro plan is available at no cost during the first month. The free plan allows for up to five searches per month.. There is an option for a paid personal or institutional account. Creating an account is optional with an institutional email only.

Link: https://www.undermind.ai/home/

Link to Additional Information

ASTA is a research platform developed by the Allen Institute for AI that enables article searches and information summarization, with a data analysis tool expected to be added soon. The tool is based on a corpus of more than 12 million open-access articles and over 108 million abstracts in the fields of medicine, life sciences, and computer science. Its search mechanism is agent-based (Deep research), allowing it to retrieve even relatively niche articles that might not appear in less in-depth searches. If further depth is required, users can type “Work Harder” in the chat window after the search is complete. At the start, a pop-up window appears where users can choose whether to allow the tool to train on their queries. It is also possible to register for a personal account with Google credentials to save searches.

Usage costs: Free

Link: https://asta.allen.ai/chat

Link to further information

Semantic Scholar is a multidisciplinary database where searches are based on the semantic analysis of the texts of the articles it covers. It was created by the Allen Institute for AI.

Information source: It contains over 200 million articles across all fields of science, including those from PubMed.

Special features: Semantic Scholar displays citation information for articles, provides a summary sentence (TLDR) for each article, allows users to browse information by topics, and enables the creation of a personal account to receive tailored recommendations for articles based on those saved. It also serves as a source of information for many other tools.

Usage costs: Free

Link:https://www.semanticscholar.org/

SciArena is an experimental (beta) tool from the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence, inspired by the popular Chatbot Arena website for anonymous model comparisons. The goal of SciArena is to enable comparison of models in their ability to generate a literature review based on the article database in Semantic Scholar. The tool includes a platform where two models can be compared anonymously, allowing users to vote for their preferred model, and a leaderboard displaying model rankings according to user votes.

The information retrieval mechanism for answering questions entered into the tool is adapted from the Institute’s Scholar QA tool. The collected information is passed to two randomly selected models to formulate answers. In ScholarQA, the answer formulation is done by Claude’s Sonnet 4 model, so using SciArena effectively allows obtaining answers from other models based on the same information.

Tool link: https://sciarena.allen.ai/
More information: https://allenai.org/blog/sciarena

GPTs for Searching, Writing, Summarizing and Teaching

GPTs are specialized tools within ChatGPT for various purposes. With the release of the GPT-4O model, access to these tools is now available for free but with a limited number of daily queries. Access is via ChatGPT and the “Explore GPTs” option in the sidebar menu. The GPTs available here are designed for searching, writing, and summarizing information. Before using a new GPT for the first time, it is recommended to check its intended purposes and the suggested ways to use it.

A GPT for searching and summarizing information based on the multidisciplinary database of R discovery app, which includes topics related to medicine.

Link to Ask R Discovery GPT

Last update: 2.11.25

A GPT for searching and summarizing information based on the databases Semantic Scholar, OpenAlex, and an additional internal database of the company. These databases are updated monthly. Since June 20, users can search for patents through the tool, with the source of information being Google Scholar.

Link to the ScholarAI GPTs

Last update: 2.11.25

A particularly popular GPT that assists in analyzing PDF files, adding references to text, and writing text with citations. It is connected online to various databases (not explicitly stated which, but including PubMed, arXiv, and Nature). A plugin for Zotero is also available. 

Link to the GPTs

Last update: 2.11.25

A dedicated GPT for academic writing (the name contains an error in the original). It composes texts in academic language and adds references within the text and at the end upon request. It is not connected to any online databases and is updated only until October 2023. Therefore, there may be inaccuracies in the references, and their currency depends on the model’s last update date.

Link to the GPTs

Last update: 2.11.25

A dedicated GPT for writing long texts on various topics. It is one of the most popular among the existing GPTs. After entering an initial prompt, users receive a request for important details to focus the writing, such as the target audience and style. While it is less tailored for academic writing, it can serve as a preliminary draft.

Link to the GPTs

Last update: 2.11.25

A dedicated GPT for correcting writing errors. Users can upload text and request corrections. The text will be corrected with the changes highlighted, along with an explanation of what the error was. It works in multiple languages.

Link to the GPTs

Last update: 2.11.25

Tools available under institutional subscription (Technion/RAMBAM)

ProQuest Research Assistant is accessible through the Technion’s databases via ProQuest Central and 
ProQuest dissertations & theses global. After running an initial search, the tool suggests key terms to refine the search. Upon selecting a specific article from the results, it provides a summary of the main points, additional relevant articles, brainstorming on further research questions related to the topic, and the option to run searches for these questions. Additionally, it offers explanations of key terms in the article and provides further information about them. The tool generates Boolean queries for each search, which can be tracked and edited in the search box. The model currently powering the tool is OpenAI’s GPT-4o mini.

Link to the tool
Link to a tutorial video about the tool
Link for additional information

As of July 2025, the acquisition of an organizational ChatGPT account through the Technion is available. Further details via the link

Tools for Assisting with Reading Articles and Organizing Information

NotebookLM is a tool developed by Google that allows users to create notebooks by topic and upload various types of information sources to each notebook (PDF files, links, text, audio files—up to 200 MB per file. It is now possible to upload Google Sheets files directly from Google Drive into the notebooks. In the free plan, users can upload up to 50 sources per notebook, and up to 300 in the paid version. Sources can also be added directly from within the notebook by using the Discover feature.

The notebook’s context window currently supports up to one million tokens. Users can now define custom instructions for each notebook (via the chat settings), such as specifying a goal or role, to improve the results.

It is possible to interact conversationally with the notebook’s contents and to generate audio summaries (podcasts) or visual summaries (videos) with customization options (including multiple languages, adjustable in the tool’s settings). Other available features include mind maps, study guides, reports, quizzes, and more.

Generated content can be saved as notes within notebooks, which can themselves become new sources. Until now, chat history was not automatically saved unless manually added as notes; however, in the current update being rolled out, automatic chat history saving is expected to be enabled.

Notebooks can be shared with specific people or via a link. In addition to personal notebooks, there are also public notebooks created by the company on a variety of topics.

Link: https://notebooklm.google/

Apps links: Android, IOS

Last update: 12.11.25

This tool allows users to upload PDF files, receive explanations about their content, and ask follow-up questions. It is now also possible to receive explanations of graphs and formulas simply by highlighting them on the screen, as well as to upload articles directly from Zotero for analysis and processing. These functions are available at no cost and without limits. A paid account also enables users to receive summaries and save all  explanations. Registration is required to start using the tool.

Link: https://www.explainpaper.com/dashboard

Last update: 12.11.25

This tool allows users to upload PDF files and receive explanations and summaries of their content. It operates in multiple languages and allows the processing of up to 2 PDF files per day in the free version.

Link: https://www.chatpdf.com/

Tools for Data Analysis

A dedicated tool for analyzing information and data. Users can upload files and request various analyses, graphs, and statistical tests. With a paid account, users can choose the model to operate.

Basic operations in the tool are free (15 prompts per month), while advanced work with multiple files and numerous queries requires paid packages. A 50% discount is available for students and academics.

Link: https://julius.ai/

Last update: 2.11.25

A dedicated tool for analyzing information and data. Users can upload files and request various analyses, graphs, and statistical tests. In the free version, users can perform up to 10 queries per month at no cost.

Link: https://vizly.ai/

Last update: 2.11.25

Translation Tools

Tomedes is a well-established Israeli company in the field of translation, which has also developed an AI-powered tool for this purpose. The tool translates texts between multiple languages using several models and displays the results from each model with a numerical ranking. Users can refine the translation into different styles, with a particular emphasis on accurately translating professional terminology. To get started, users can paste text or upload a file. The tool provides 500 free credits each month, along with a “welcome bonus” of 3,000 credits for new users.

https://www.machinetranslation.com/

Last update: 2.11.25

Recommended sources for ongoing updates

Channels and podcasts that provide news overviews and recommendations for various AI tools tailored to academia and education.

  1. Dr. Andy Stapleton
  2. AI and Tech for Education
  3. ChatEDU Podcast 
  4. AI in Education podcast

Last update: 2.11.25

AI news and recommendations for various AI tools for a range of uses.

  1. Rob The AI Guy
  2. Skill Leap AI
  3. Google DeepMind: The Podcast
  4. Hard Fork Podcast (New-York Times)
  5. Everyday AI
  6. AI Inside

Last update: 2.11.25

IBM Technology – A useful channel for simple explanations of technical AI terms. A Link to the channel

Mixture of Experts – A weekly podcast with a panel of experts discussing the past week’s AI innovations and news. A Link to the podcast

Security Intelligence – A weekly podcast with a panel of experts discussing Security matters mostly related to AI security. A link to the podcast

Last update: 2.11.25

One Useful Thing by Ethan Mollick. Link

How to AI – by Ruben Hassid. Link

Tech Landscape – by Peter Gasston. Link

Last update: 2.11.25

NEJM AI Grand Rounds – The NEJM podcast. A link to the podcast

JAMA+ AI Conversations – The JAMA podcast A link to the podcast

Last update: 22.11.25

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