PennWest Libraries AI Tools
Many of the research databases available through the PennWest University Libraries now incorporate AI tools into their search interfaces. Learn more about these tools in the tabbed box below.
Generative AI Insights
EBSCO’s AI Insight tool uses AI to generate concise, bulleted summaries of 2-5 key points of articles and book chapters. These summaries can be helpful to quickly determine which search results are most relevant to your topic. Users can access AI Insights from result lists. This feature may not be available for all items.
Natural Language Search
Natural Language Search (NLS) allows you to search EBSCO databases using everyday, conversational language to ask questions or describe your topic. NLS also allows you to search using keywords or subject terms using Boolean operators. In either case, NLS uses AI to understand your intent. NLS is the default search mode in EBSCO databases, but it can be toggled on/off.
After you enter a search, click "Show refined query" to see how NLS interpreted your search and "refined" it into a search.
OneSearch Research Assistant
The OneSearch Research Assistant is available from the top menu in OneSearch. You will need to sign in to use the Research Assistant. It can also be accessed directly with this link: OneSearch Research Assistant
OneSearch Research Assistant is an AI-powered natural language search and article summary tool designed to help you get started with a research topic. It retrieves 5 articles or ebooks, summarizes them into a basic narrative, and suggests additional research questions.
OneSearch Research Assistant results do not include newspaper articles or results from JSTOR, APA PsycARTICLES or APA PsycINFO, or ScienceDirect/Elsevier journals.
JSTOR's AI Research Tool and Semantic Results tools require a personal JSTOR account. To set up an account, follow these steps:
- Login to JSTOR
- Click Register in the top right to create a personal account. You may use your PennWest or another email to set up the account.
- Your personal account will now be paired with PennWest. In the future login at the library’s JSTOR link with your PennWest credentials and it will automatically link to your personal account.
Once you’ve created a personal account, start with a keyword search and look for these AI tools in the results.
AI Research Tool
JSTOR’s AI Research Tool is used to “assess content relevance and surface key ideas” of a source (book chapter, journal article, or research report) in JSTOR. Get Started by entering a keyword search JSTOR and select a relevant source. Interrogate the source, using a predefined query or ask your own question.
Read more: JSTOR's AI Research Tool: Overview
Semantic Results
Semantic Results identifies the top 25 results conceptually matched to your search, with interactive tools to engage with those 25 results. Semantic results uses “machine learning to find content that is conceptually related to your query, even if different wording is used”. Ask questions of the results to identify trends, commonalities between sources, additional topics, etc., but always verify in the actual sources.
From result list, click the title to open the item, along with the AI tool.
Use Semantic results to analyze up to 25 items.
Watch this video to learn more: https://support.jstor.org/hc/en-us/articles/25755478251159-JSTOR-s-AI-Research-Tool-Overview#experimental-search