In today’s academic scenario, artificial intelligence (AI) tools are creating quite an excitement, and for good reason. These tools act as invaluable assistants, simplifying tasks such as help writing, data analysis and literature reviews. Just imagine having a friend who helps you write precise essays, digs out insights from your research data and even finds and summarizes relevant research papers for your projects. That is what AI does for researchers.
These AI tools work like magic. They help researchers write better, understand data faster and stay on top of what is already out there in their field.
While AI tools undeniably offer numerous benefits in academic settings, their widespread use also brings contradictions and challenges. The high point of discussion is the equilibrium between efficiency and authenticity. While AI streamlines tasks and improves productivity, there is a risk of losing the personal touch and critical thinking skills essential for genuine academic inquiry.
Navigation of these contradictions requires thoughtful consideration. It is necessary to ensure that the AI tools complement, rather than undermine, the fundamental principles of academic research.
One of the most popular and classic AI tools is the ChatGPT, however, there are plenty of other specific and powerful tools built to help in academic writing. It is essential to note that these tools are meant to assist, not replace, academic researchers. They streamline processes, saving time and optimizing workflows. Some tools even have free versions or come with basic but helpful functionalities. Let’s take a look at 14 options of free AI tools:
AI Tools for Finding a Research Topic
1- Research Rabbit: helps you discover new research topics by exploring related papers, authors, and trends. Through a “citation-based literature mapping tool,” users can input one or more seed papers to get suggested literature related to their research topic. It uses AI to recommend topics based on your interests and previous searches.
2- Nextnet: is an AI-powered research discovery tool designed to assist scientists and researchers in the biomedical and life sciences fields. Its primary focus is organizing and integrating vast amounts of biomedical knowledge to facilitate collaborative discovery and decision-making.
3- Litmaps: allows researchers to visualize the citation network of academic papers, helping them to discover new research topics and trends. It provides personalized recommendations based on your research interests.
4- Dimensions: offers a comprehensive view of the research landscape, including funded grants, publications, clinical trials, patents, and policy documents. It uses AI to help researchers identify trends and potential research topics.
AI Tools to Help Read Papers
5- OpenRead: It offers a range of features that make it easier for researchers and students to interact with scientific literature.
6- Explainpaper: helps users understand complex academic papers by breaking down dense and technical content into simpler, more digestible explanations. Users can upload papers and receive detailed summaries and explanations of specific sections, making it easier to comprehend difficult concepts and jargon.
7- PaperBrain: It provides automatic summarization, keyword extraction, and contextual linking to other relevant research, helping users save time and focus on important insights and methodologies.
8- Scholarcy: is an AI-powered tool that summarizes academic papers, making it easier to digest complex information quickly. It highlights key points, methodologies, and conclusions.
AI Tools for Data Analysis and Report
9- Azure Machine Learning: is a part of Microsoft Azure, the cloud computing platform and service Microsoft provides. Microsoft Azure offers a wide range of cloud services, including computing, analytics, storage, and networking. Azure Machine Learning leverages the power and scalability of the Azure cloud to provide robust machine learning and data analysis capabilities.
10- IBM Watson Studio: is an integrated environment for data scientists, application developers, and subject matter experts to collaborate and easily with data. It provides tools for data analysis, machine learning, and AI.
11- Knime: Konstanz Information Miner is an open-source data analytics, reporting, and integration platform. It allows users to create data workflows using a visual programming interface, making it accessible for users without extensive programming skills.
12- Datawrapper: a tool designed for creating simple, embeddable charts and maps. It is particularly useful for data visualization, allowing users to upload data and create visual representations without writing any code.
AI for Academic Writing
13- Jenni: a sophisticated AI-powered writing assistant that enhances productivity and quality in academic writing and other content creation tasks. It leverages natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning.
14- AcademicHelp: is a comprehensive platform offering detailed writing guides, sample papers, professional editing services, and a plagiarism checker to assist students with academic writing tasks.
15- QuillBolt: AI-powered tool that helps with paraphrasing, summarization, grammar checking, and adjusting the fluency and formality of texts, making it ideal for students and researchers aiming to improve the clarity, originality, and quality of their writing.
16- Writefull: uses AI to help researchers write and revise their academic texts. It offers language suggestions, checks for correct terminology, and provides examples of academic phrases.
The use of AI tools in academic research has raised numerous questions, and undoubtedly, many more will arise in the future. The scenario of science and academic writing is evolving rapidly. What is your take on it?
If you are looking for more information about AI tools and their applications in academic research, stay tuned to our social media channels and our e-books. However, if you prefer human assistance in your academic journey, feel free to contact us.
Let’s embrace the evolving academic research setting together, leveraging AI tools’ power to push the academic area forward.
