Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools have advanced how we approach research, offering capabilities that streamline processes and enhance academic excellence. These tools can assist in finding and reviewing literature, improving the quality of writing, managing citations, and even analyzing complex data. They are designed to support researchers at every stage of their essays or research, making tasks that once took hours achievable in moments.
For instance, AI can help identify connections between research articles, suggest relevant resources, and provide editing support to refine your writing. Tools like Semantic Scholar and Connected Papers simplify the literature review process, while Grammarly and Quillbot improve grammar and style. Reference managers such as Endnote and Refworks integrate AI features to automate citation tasks precisely.
Despite AI tools utility, they are tools that are not infallible. They can produce errors, reflect biases, or provide incomplete information. As researchers, it is vital to critically evaluate AI-generated outputs and ensure that their use aligns with ethical academic practices. Always consult your supervisor or department guidelines before relying on AI.
AI tools are here to assist, not replace, the rigor and creativity of your research. At UCT Libraries, we encourage thoughtful and responsible use of AI tools to complement your scholarly capabilities. If you have questions or need help, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.
Descript is an AI tool that edits audio files, transcribes spoken words, and generates voiceovers. This tool can also be used to add narration to presentations.
ChatGPT provides conversational responses, drafts text, and answers to general queries. For example: this tool can be used for brainstorming ideas or clarifying complex topics.
Bard Use: This is a Google AI chatbot designed for interactive learning and problem-solving. For example: this tool can be used for answering academic queries or summarizing research articles.
(Image created with DALL-E and prompted in ChatGPT)
Grammarly is an AI tool that improves grammar, spelling, and style, offering real-time suggestions for clearer and more polished writing.
Quillbot combines grammar checking with paraphrasing and tone improvements.
Writefull is an AI writing tool for academic work, offering grammar corrections, language improvements, citation checks, and templates for academic phrases.
DallE is an AI tool that generates images from text descriptions for creative and visual projects.
MidJourney is an AI image-generation tool that creates high-quality visuals from text prompts. This tool specializes in artistic and imaginative designs, often producing visually striking and detailed images.
Otter.ai is a tool designed to record, transcribe, and summarize meetings or lectures, making it ideal for capturing notes during group discussions or reviewing highlights from lectures.
Calendly simplifies scheduling by coordinating meetings and appointments, which can be particularly useful for organizing study group sessions or arranging consultations with professors.
ChatGPT (for brainstorming): An AI chatbot by OpenAI, used to generate ideas, and explore concepts interactively.
Claude: An AI assistant by Anthropic, designed for conversational tasks, drafting, and providing detailed responses.
IdeaMap.ai: A creative AI platform for brainstorming and organising ideas into actionable plans or visual formats.
Perplexity: An AI-powered search and answer tool that provides concise and accurate information by combining web search and contextual understanding.
SciSpace: An AI tool for researchers that simplifies academic papers, explains concepts, and enhances research understanding.
Research Rabbit is a powerful citation-based literature mapping tool. By adding one or more foundational 'seed' papers to your account, the tool identifies additional relevant papers aligned with the topics and references you've selected. This makes it an excellent resource for conducting comprehensive literature searches and reviews.
