Research Help: Generative AI & Its Use in Universities: Generative AI Tools

Commonly Used Generative AI Tools

ChatGPT
The one that started it all.
ChatGPT excels in generating human-like text on diverse topics, making it a versatile tool for communication and creativity; however, its responses may occasionally lack context or coherence, particularly in complex or nuanced discussions, reflecting limitations in understanding deeper meaning. ChatGPT pulls predictive language from a wide variety of places making it difficult to validate the information provided.
GPT4All
Software Download Required. GPT4All is an ecosystem to train and deploy powerful and customized large language models that run locally on consumer grade CPUs. There is a free and paid subscription. During off-hours, users can get access to the subscription version at no cost.
Microsoft Copilot
The free version of this software includes:
Chat with text, voice, and image capabilities.
Summarizing documents and web pages.
Image creation in Designer
Web grounding.
Use of plugins and Copilot GPTs.
Gemini
Gemini connects you to Google's AI. LIke ChatGPT, Gemini can create hallucinations. Currently, Gemini cannot be accessed through Fitchburg State University accounts.
Hume
Hume AI builds AI models that enable technology to communicate with empathy and learn to make people happy. Rather than typing you engage with Hume through conversation. It isn't connected to the internet so it is limited in the questions that it can answer.
Nightcafe
NightCafe Studio is an AI art generator that allows anyone to create unique artwork using text descriptions or image uploads. While it offers a free tier with access to powerful algorithms and a strong community, some features require paid credits. Some of the images generated perpetuate existing racial and gender stereotypes.

Generative AI Tools for Research

There are several generative AI tools that support the research process. Below is curated list of resources.

Perplexity
Perplexity is similar to ChatGPT in that you type in a question and an answer is generated. However, Perplexity will include citations to sources that it uses and searches the internet so researchers receive more updated information than ChatGPT 3.5. Perplexity has a free version and a subscription version. Visit the Perplexity FAQ page for more information - https://www.perplexity.ai/hub/faq
Consensus
Promoted as an academic search engine, Consensus will synthesize articles on a given topic. They use source material from Semantic Scholar which includes over 200 million papers across many disciplines. There is both a free and subscription version. Their FAQ section - https://consensus.app/home/blog/welcome-to-consensus/ - explains how they obtain and rank results.
Elicit
Elicit, like Consensus, using Semantic Scholar for its source information When you ask a question, Elicit will provide the top four papers on the topic. They summarize the articles. It also shows each article separately so you can compare the articles by findings, methodology, etc. More information about Elicit can be found at https://support.elicit.com/en/categories/146369-about-elicit
Research Rabbit
Research Rabbit is a citation based literature mapping tool. When you enter in a title of an article, it will generate a citation map of similar articles and show you the connections between research. It sources materials from Semantic Scholar and PubMed.
HubMeta
HubMeta is a free web-based data entry system for correlational Meta-Analysis. You can upload references, filter your papers, code the article and conduct integrated analysis.

More information about ChatGPT

Where does the information come from?

ChatGPT was trained on a body of text which allows it to generate text in response to a prompt. However, the entire body of text that has trained ChatGPT is unknown. When ChatGPT provides an answer to a question, it will not immediately provide a reference for where the information came from. This is because it is pulling predictive language from a wide variety of places, so the information usually doesn't come from a single source. Because of this, you typically cannot trace the response back to a single parent source or know where the information came from.

Can ChatGPT provide references?

Yes, when prompted, ChatGPT can provide references. However, these references may not be where the information actually came from and - more importantly - may not be for real sources. Despite sounding plausible, ChatGPT can easily hallucinate citations.

For example, ChatGPT provided this citation and summary in response to a prompt about needing an academic journal article on the topic of amphetamine use and social determinants of health:

"Here's an example of a peer-reviewed journal article on amphetamine abuse and its intersections with social determinants of health:
Stoové, M. A., Dietze, P. M., Jolley, D., Fry, C. L., Brewer, N., & Hellard, M. E. (2008). Increasing access to sterile injecting equipment and syringe exchange in a rural area with a high prevalence of bloodborne viruses. Australian Journal of Rural Health, 16(2), 99-106.
This article describes a study conducted in a rural area of Australia with a high prevalence of bloodborne viruses, including those associated with amphetamine use..." OpenAI. (2023, February 17). [ChatGPT response to a prompt about locating an academic journal article]. https://chat.openai.com/

Although the summary sounds plausible and the citation looks realistic, this article does not exist. The journal exists, as does the lead author. However, Stoové has not published in this journal.

How current is the information?

As of August 2024, the cutoff date for the data ChatGPT was trained on is July 2023. This means the tool has limited access to events and information more recent than that. ChatGPT is being updated regularly, so this may change. However, it is important to realize that the currency of the information provided by ChatGPT is lagging. This can impact information credibility, especially when dealing with a topic where the age of your information matters.

Source: Adapted from Salt Lake Community College Library: ChatGPT and Information Literacy