Generative AI and information retrieval

If you are unsure about what Gen AI is, you can start by reading about it here

Your course memo should state how Gen AI may or may not be used at all. In general, you should never submit a work as your own unless you have completed it yourself.

Gen AI and information retrieval

So how can you in a useful, and permissible, way use Gen AI when it comes to information retrieval?

Look up simple facts

Gen AI can quickly provide answers to simple fact-based questions. However, it is important to review the information against reliable sources as Gen AI answers can be inaccurate.

Get tips on relevant keywords

You can get help identifying relevant keywords and terms that make your information retrieval easier. This can be especially useful when formulating a purpose for a thesis or searching for scientific articles.

Use AI as a complement

See Gen AI as a complement, not as a replacement for traditional search methods. Primarily use the databases and search services offered by the library to find scientific articles.

Prompt – ask questions to a Gen AI tool

When you search in the library's search service or in a database, you may enter a book title or a search term. If you're going to use a Gen AI tool, it is another way to search, or prompt as it is called. Prompting means talking to the Gen AI-tool. The following are good to bring into the conversation:

• Content - what do you want?
• Context - in what context should it be used?
• Tone - what address and level do you want in the answer?
• Form - in what form do you want the answer?

Often, you need to change your question, explain more, ask again, all based on the answers that the Gen AI tool gives you.

Copilot

Via University West, you have access to the Gen AI tool Copilot. We recommend starting here if you are new to this.

Specialized Gen AI Tools to Search for Scientific Articles

Semantic Scholar

Semantic Scholar shows related articles both by means of citations and subject similarity.

Inciteful

With Inciteful, you start the search process with one or two articles. If an article is used, a graph is generated with similar articles. Important articles, authors and review articles in the network are identified based on the article information entered. If two articles are used, a graph is generated that shows the relationship the articles have via citations.

These tools can be very helpful, but it is always important to make a source-critical assessment of the material you find. If you find nothing more than a reference or an abstract, consider whether it is really the case that there is a scientific article for real. Gen AI tools sometimes make things up!

Important to keep in mind if you use Gen AI

Don't use personal or confidential information as input into a Gen AI tool. Text that is entered is used by the Gen AI tools and may then be used by third parties in an incorrect way.

Licensed material, such as scientific articles, may not be entered into Gen AI tools.

If you have any questions, please contact us!