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AI-Generated Tools for Academic Research

A guide that outlines the key features, benefits, drawbacks, and potential applications of AI-powered research tools.

Introduction to Consensus

More About Consensus

How it Works:

  • Built on the Semantic Scholar database:
    • Contains over 200 million papers across scientific domains
    • Incorporates data from PubMed, Crossref, ORCID, etc.
    • Updates monthly to maintain currency
       
  • Combines multiple search technologies:
    • Keyword and Vector search
    • Custom fine-tuned language models
    • OpenAI's GPT-4 for summarization
       
  • Ranks results based on multiple factors:
    • Citation count and velocity
    • Study design
    • Publication date
    • Paper relevance to query

User Interaction:

  • Search using questions or keywords
  • Apply filters for:
    • Publication date
    • Preprint exclusion
    • Open access
    • Minimum citations
    • Methods
    • Journals
    • Subject domains
    • Country
  • Export results to CSV with 11 paper-level detail columns
  • Save papers and searches using list and bookmark features

Analysis Features:

  • Consensus Meter:
    • Analyzes yes/no questions
    • Classifies results as "yes," "no," "possibly," or "mixed"
    • Shows percentage of agreement across papers
  • Study Snapshot:
    • Displays up to 7 categories of information
    • Includes population, sample size, location, results, outcomes, duration, and methods
  • Pro Analysis:
    • Extracts and synthesizes information from papers
    • Links information numerically to source papers
  • "Ask Paper" feature (beta) for full-text paper interactions

Notable Features:

  • Auto-citations with integration for Zotero, Mendeley, and EndNote
  • Quality indicators (rigorous journal label, highly cited label, randomized controlled trial)
  • Research quality filters
  • Multiple export options

Benefits:

  • Evidence-based scientific coverage
  • Direct connection to source papers
  • Multilingual content support
  • Detailed paper-level insights

Limitations:

  • Freemium model with limited free features (10 Pro analyses and snapshots per month)
  • Search restricted to Semantic Scholar database
  • Can produce some off-topic suggestions
  • Search algorithm doesn't automatically favor current papers
  • Some aspects of algorithms remain opaque