1. Artificial Intelligence
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  3. Guide to Artificial Intelligence
  4. AI for Research

AI for Research

Generative AI is a powerful tool for gathering, evaluating and summarizing information.

You can use generative AI as a research tool, generating topic ideas, refining research questions and identifying key themes in large volumes of information. AI tools can help locate relevant sources, extract important details and compare different viewpoints, making it easier to evaluate the quality and credibility of information. Additionally, students can use AI to summarize long articles or reports, turning complex material into clear, concise overviews that support better understanding and efficient studying.

student writing while sitting in front of laptop computer

Suggestions

Use AI tools to:

Orient you to a topic, provide background and explain complex concepts.

Brainstorm multiple approaches to consider in studying a subject.

Analyze large datasets and draw conclusions.

Create simulations, prototypes and scenarios.

Search online sources and identify credible resources.

Critique your approach to a topic.

  • Use real-time web searching AI tools, such as Perplexity.
  • Use tools specialized to academic research, such as Semantic Scholar, Google Scholar or Elicit.
  • Ask Google’s Notebook.lm to analyze documents and create briefings and mind maps.
  • Ask for help from professors and librarians who are experts in using AI for research.
  • Use AI tools to translate texts in other languages.

Cautions

  • Verify everything: AI output can sound confident, but these tools can make up (“hallucinate”) or misrepresent information, draw false conclusions, make major mistakes and generate fake sources.
  • AI doesn’t “understand” the way humans do; these models lack real-world experience and context, so they don’t easily handle irony, humor and complex metaphors.
  • Don’t just read AI-generated summaries; take time to read original articles and understand detailed points and context.
  • Be aware that many of today’s AI tools are trained on information up to a certain date and may not have access to recent events or new discoveries.
  • Challenge AI responses and require the AI to justify its output by citing sources and data.
  • Beware of biased AI output.
  • Guard against overreliance on AI; challenge yourself to learn and exercise your mental muscles.

Examples of Specialized AI Tools for Research, Writing and Coding

Checklist for Evaluating AI-Generated Content

Accuracy and Source Check

  • Verify all facts, statistics and data points with multiple reputable sources (academic journals, government publications, respected news organizations); don’t rely on a single source.
  • If the AI cites sources, check those sources directly; if the AI cannot cite a source, disregard the information.
  • Watch for outdated information; confirm the publication date of source materials.
  • Try the same prompts in multiple AI tools and traditional search engines and compare the results.

Bias Check

  • Ensure the content presents multiple perspectives and does not omit certain viewpoints or promote stereotypes.
  • Check original sources to see if they favor a specific viewpoint, ideology or group.
  • Use critical thinking to evaluate information that seems slanted to serve business, government or advocacy interests, or influence buying decisions.

Logical Consistency Check

  • Ensure the arguments being presented flow logically and make sense.
  • Watch for broad generalizations from limited evidence.
  • Look carefully for contradictions or misleading jumps in reasoning.
  • Assess the depth of reasoning and avoid simplistic analysis.

Emotional and Manipulative Language Check

  • Look for content that uses neutral, fact-based language; be wary of language that is overly dramatic or inflammatory.
  • Watch for loaded words designed to provoke emotions (fear, anger, excitement) or influence opinions or actions.

Adapted from the Student Guide to Artificial Intelligence (2025), developed by Elon University’s Imagining the Digital Future Center in partnership with American Association of Colleges and Universities. Used with permission under the Creative Commons BY-NC-SA license.

Have a Question?

Take a look at frequently asked questions about AI at NIU and available resources.