Embracing AI in university research

Sponsored by Clarivate

Posted on November 12, 2024 in Blog Posts

How responsible development and integration of Academic AI addresses challenges

The rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) triggered a spectrum of perspectives about the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for knowledge communities, particularly in research and education. Among them is a balanced view from Professor Karim Lakhani of Harvard Business School, who eschews doomsday predictions of AI replacing humans outright, but posits, instead, that those who skillfully integrate AI into their work will outpace those who don’t.  

This line of thinking can be particularly relevant in the context of academic research and learning, suggesting that students and researchers who use AI capabilities effectively will gain an edge over those who don’t. Regardless of where universities stand on AI implementation, students are moving ahead. A survey by the Digital Education Council found that 86% of students (including graduate students) are already using AI in their studies. However, 58% report that they do not have sufficient AI knowledge and skills, and 48% don’t feel prepared for an AI-enabled workforce.

According to Alessandro Di Lullo, CEO of the Digital Education Council and Academic Fellow in AI Governance at The University of Hong Kong, “Universities need to consider how to effectively boost AI literacy to equip both students and academics with the skills to succeed in an AI-driven world.”

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AI that’s responsible and maintains academic standards

As we face the AI revolution, the responsible application of AI in academic settings will be central to universities’ success. Clarivate™ is working closely with its community of librarians, educators, researchers and students to support universities in this endeavor, creating AI solutions that genuinely meet the needs of scholarly communities and maintain traditional standards of ethics and intellectual rigor.

AI power for the Web of Science

A key example is the development of the Web of Science™ Research Assistant. This AI-powered tool enhances the research process and elevates search and discovery in the Web of Science Core Collection, an essential research resource. The research assistant leverages AI to help researchers overcome traditional stumbling points and accelerate tasks that devour their time. For example, it…

• Enables natural language searches in multiple languages to simplify discovery
• Provides concise overviews of search results, helping researchers quickly understand the key points of relevant papers
• Offers guided prompts and tasks tailored to specific research needs, such as starting a literature review, finding a journal to publish in or identifying experts in a field
• Helps researchers explore connections between concepts and papers with dynamic visualizations, such as trend graphs, topic maps, and co-citation networks

The Web of Science Research Assistant has been optimized for academic research use cases, supporting researchers at all stages of their careers. Academic AI is used to help them get more the Web of Science Core Collection, an essential research resource. (Note: Clarivate provides free trials.)

An ongoing program of Academic AI development

Web of Science Research Assistant is part of a larger initiative at Clarivate to create resources that empower students, librarians, researchers and educators of all kinds to safely and responsibly navigate this new landscape, ultimately driving research excellence and superior student learning outcomes.

Clarivate AI-based solutions provide users with intelligence grounded in trustworthy sources and embedded in academic workflows, thus reducing the risks of misinformation, bias, and IP abuse. Clarivate develops Academic AI by leveraging:

• A wealth of expertly curated content
• Deep understanding of academic processes
• Rigorous testing and validation of results
• Close partnership with the academic community
• Strong governance, driven by academic principles

To learn more about the Web of Science Research Assistant and other Clarivate Academic AI initiatives, visit clarivate.com/ai/academia

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Clarivate™ is a leading global provider of transformative intelligence. We offer enriched data, insights & analytics, workflow solutions and expert services in the areas of Academia & Government, Intellectual Property and Life Sciences & Healthcare.

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