Artificial Intelligence

The AI Research Assistant is a generative AI tool connected to Broome Library's catalog that helps you:

• Explore research topics
• Better understand subjects (or gather broad background information)
• Guide you to the next steps in your research process

When you ask a question using natural language, it provides:

• A concise summary with citations linked to library sources
• 5 relevant library sources (no hallucinations like with ChatGPT)
• A link to expand your search in the library catalog
• Suggested follow-up research questions
• Support for multiple languages (ask questions and receive answers in Spanish)

Warning

It’s not perfect, AI never is. But it’s a good place to start your searching. While helpful, it's not perfect. The information below covers usage, limitations, and best practices. 

Important Limitations

• Not comprehensive: Doesn't search the entire library catalog.
  • Click the “View More Results” link to search the library catalog or the Newspaper Search to search newspaper
  • Includes: Electronic books, journal articles, peer-reviewed items, dissertations
  • Excludes: Newspaper/magazine articles, physical books and journals, anything located in JSTOR or ScienceDirect
• Not conversational: Unlike ChatGPT, it doesn’t allow you to have an ongoing conversation. See the example below for how to ask follow-up questions:
  • Original question: “What topics did Simone de Beauvoir write about?”
  • Incorrect Follow-Up: “and what is the philosophy of her work?”
  • Correct Follow-Up: “what is the philosophy of Simone de Beauvoir’s work?”
• Language Note: While it supports multiple languages, it may return sources in various languages. 

 Best Practices

• Always verify information from the sources directly.
  • The overviews are simply summaries of abstracts - so summaries of summaries and a lot of details, nuances, and information are left out of the overviews.
• Be specific with your questions. For example:
  • “I need peer-reviewed journal articles published in the last 10 years on what are the causes of climate change?”
  • “I need sources published within the last ten years on the causes of the Zoot Suit Riots”
• Ask open-ended questions to avoid confirmation bias (getting answers that agree with you and leaving out responses with other perspectives). For example:
  • NO (leading question): “Is climate change caused by pollution?”
  • YES (open-ended question): “What are the causes of climate change?”

Let's Experiment

1. Open the AI Research Assistant
2. Ask a leading question and then an open-ended question.
3. Compare the overview summaries and sources.

The AI Research Assistant's is meant to help you find good sources. You should not be citing the overview directly in your work. It's a starting point for research, not a substitute for reading the actual sources. However, if you professor wants you to cite AI tools used in your assignments, consult the Writing & Multiliteracy Center for the most up-to-date policies on citing AI.

Here’s a list of AI resources and tools you may find helpful in your research process. Always ask your professor’s permission before using them. Navigate to the second tab in this box for video tutorials on how to use these tools. Find detailed information on additional AI research tools on the Generative AI Product Tracker. created by ITHAKA S+R.

Canvas AI Resources

• AI Commons. - Platform offering AI tools, training programs, and CSU-developed solutions
• Academic Applications of AI (AAAI) Student Microcredential. - Comprehensive program for all CSU students to enhance understanding of AI

Further Reading

• CIRCLS. AI glossary. Center for Integrative Research in Computing and Learning Sciences.
• Murad, A. (2023, September 6). LLMs for dummies. Digital Native. 
• University Library. Generative AI: Overview. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

CSUCI AI Resources

AI Research Assistant Resources