SHSS - PDEV - Search research literature effectively: Research Tools - AI Enhanced

At HKUST, the use of Generative AI (GenAI) tools  is determined by individual course instructor. So, check with their policies.

Many non-specialist GenAI tools generates fabricated references (hallucitations). However, there are some tools that make use of real references. Scite.ai is one of them, and HKUST has subscribed to it. To access, go to Library Home > Databases > S > Scite

The function Scite Assistant allows you to ask questions, which are answered with generated text and embedded reference, with the references and links on the right.

To start with, simply type your question in the main page.

Adjust the settings if you needed. 

Although Scite Assistant (and other AI tools) provides you with a summary of searched references, DO NOT use AI-generated summaries directly in your assignment. This is plagiarism. Please:

• Verify AI summaries against original sources.
• Be aware of the limitations of AI
• Use AI summaries as a starting point, not a replacement for reading the original papers.
• Engage deeply with the original papers to understand how they inform your research question.
• Use your own words to incorporate ideas and evidence.
• Always cite the original academic papers, not AI tools.
• Cite only what you have actually read.

HKUST GenAI Platform

HKUST GenAI Platform is developed by ITSO, it provides functionality similar to the public OpenAI ChatGPT, but with chat data protected and accessible only by the user. 

Open WebUI

Open WebUI is a new platform provided by ITSO for supporting generative AI services. It provides a lot of enhanced features over the current HKUST GenAI platform and has the same level of chat data security protection.

Details about the HKUST GenAI tools, such as language models, web search capabilities: https://itso.hkust.edu.hk/services/general-it-services/generative-ai-tools

• CoPilot

  In addition to the web version, it also comes with Windows 11. Click on the CoPilot icon on the task bar. It can read the webpage you open in Microsoft Edge,
• Poe

  This service need registration. It offers access to different Large Language Model (e.g., Open AI's ChatGPT, Anthropic's Claude, Google's Gemini, and Meta's Llama), as well as bots created by others. You can also compare the results of different LLM for a prompt.

A common problem with many generative AI text tools is that they generate nonsense, especially made-up citations (references). Such as 

• Hallucinations in ChatGPT: A Cautionary Tale for Biomedical Researchers
• Lawyer cites fake cases generated by ChatGPT in legal brief: The high-profile incident in a federal case highlights the need for lawyers to verify the legal insights generated by AI-powered tools

So, if you are using texts that you created using ChatGPT or other AI tools, use your eyes and your brain to check the work. Evaluate the information provided, just like anything you plan to use academically. 

1. Cross-check what it says & do "lateral reading"

• Check against your own knowledge
• Check against Wikipedia or Britannica
• See if other reliable sources state the same thing
• This is not new with generative AI, it's always been good scholarly practice

To learn more about lateral reading,  watch:

• Lateral Reading (3 min 33 sec) by the University of Louisville Library
• Check Yourself with Lateral Reading video (14 min) / by John Green (part of the Crash Course series)

2. Confirm that any references it provides are real

• Check them against PowerSearch, Google Scholar, other Library databases, etc.

3. If the references (citations) are real, check that they support the claim

• This is *NOT* a new issue with AI tools, it's always been important to do so.
• This is proper scholarly practice when working with sources both in print and online.

4. If you use ChatGPT or other AI tools in your work, you need to acknowledge it.

• Follow the guide listed in the previous section to appropriately cite and acknowledge AI-created content