5 Mind blowing AI tools every researcher should know about *but doesn't*

This video introduces five groundbreaking AI tools designed to assist researchers in their academic endeavors. The first tool, Sourcely, is an AI-powered platform for summarizing and formatting academic sources, which can be tested for free. It offers a cost-effective solution for finding reputable references and enhancing the credibility of academic papers. The second, MirrorThink, is a comprehensive AI for scientific research, providing services from literature reviews to experimental protocols. Although initially free, it requires a payment for extended features. Julius is an AI-powered data analysis tool that can analyze various file types and is particularly useful for academia. Hey Science is an AI research assistant that can read scientific papers and provide a review similar to peer feedback, although it is currently not available to the public. Lastly, Versaill.ai allows for real-time comparison of multiple language models, helping researchers identify the most suitable model for their needs. These tools are presented as a significant boon for researchers, aiming to streamline the research process and improve efficiency.

Takeaways

• 🔍 **Sourcely**: An AI tool for summarizing and formatting academic sources. It offers a free trial and is cost-effective at $7/month, providing reputable sources to enhance research credibility.
• 🌟 **MirrorThink**: Claims to be a 'General AI for Science', offering features like literature reviews, facts checking, and technology scouting. It's designed to consolidate various scientific research needs into one platform.
• 📊 **Julius**: An AI-powered data analysis tool that functions as a personal data analyst. It ensures data security by removing files an hour after the last use.
• 🚀 **Hey Science**: Although not yet available, it promises an AI reviewer feature that could revolutionize the pre-submission review process for researchers by simulating peer or supervisor feedback.
• 📚 **Versail.l**: Allows real-time comparison of multiple language models to determine which is best suited for specific research needs.
• 💡 **Free Trial & Low Cost**: Many of the mentioned tools offer free trials or are very affordable, making advanced AI capabilities accessible to a wide range of researchers.
• 🔗 **Collaborative Use**: AI tools should be used in conjunction with a researcher's own knowledge and not relied upon blindly.
• 🔬 **Specialized AI for Science**: Tools like MirrorThink are designed to cover all aspects of scientific research, from literature review to experimental protocols.
• 📈 **Data Security**: Services like Julius emphasize the temporary nature of data storage to address privacy concerns.
• 📝 **Pre-submission Tool**: Hey Science's AI reviewer can provide valuable feedback before a paper is submitted to a supervisor or for peer review.
• ⚖️ **Comparative Analysis**: Versail.l enables researchers to compare outputs from different language models to find the most suitable for their work.
• 📧 **Additional Resources**: The presenter also provides resources such as a newsletter and a website, academiainsider.com, for further academic support and tools.

Q & A

What is the primary function of Sourcely?

Sourcely is an AI-powered tool designed to help researchers find, summarize, and format sources for their academic papers. It can be used for free to some extent, and it provides quick access to reputable publications and summaries to assist in citation and understanding of main points.

How much does it cost to use Sourcely Pro?

Sourcely Pro is not very expensive, costing only seven dollars a month. This subscription allows for pasting of entire essays to find sources that can increase the credibility of the work.

What is special about the sources provided by Sourcely?

The sources provided by Sourcely are from reputable sources, which are typically used in academic research. Users can visit and download the papers to their device or add them to their reference manager.

What does the term 'assured credibility of sources' mean in the context of Sourcely?

While the exact meaning is not clearly defined in the transcript, it implies that there is some level of quality control in place to ensure the sources provided are credible and reliable before being presented to the user.

How does Sourcely compare to other reference finding tools?

Sourcely stands out because it offers a free or low-cost alternative to finding reliable sources, which is often a difficult task in early-stage research. It should be used in conjunction with a researcher's own knowledge and not relied upon blindly.

What is MirrorThink and what are its capabilities?

MirrorThink is a General AI for Science that offers a range of services including literature reviews, facts checking, mathematical accuracy with Wolfram Alpha, technology scouting, science funding, and experimental protocols. It can write literature reviews and compile information from various sources, providing a comprehensive overview of a subject.

What is the process for using MirrorThink to write a literature review?

The user can instruct MirrorThink to write a literature review on a specific topic. The AI then formulates a plan, retrieves and reads various papers, and produces summaries. It works with multiple AI agents to compile the information into a coherent review.

Why is Julius considered an AI power data analysis tool?

Julius provides users with a personal AI data analyst that can analyze uploaded files. It is particularly useful for marketing, healthcare, and academia, offering insights into data from surveys or other research.

How does Hey Science assist researchers with their papers?

Hey Science acts as a personal AI research assistant that can read millions of scientific papers. It features an AI reviewer that provides feedback on manuscripts before they are sent to supervisors or peer reviewers, potentially improving the paper's quality and addressing issues early on.

What is Versaillai.ai and how does it aid researchers?

Versaillai.ai is a tool that allows for real-time comparison of multiple language models. Researchers can input the same prompt into different models to see varying responses, helping them determine which language model might be best suited for their specific research needs.

What additional resources are available for those interested in academic research tools?

The speaker recommends checking out their newsletter at andrewsaventon.com.au/newsletter for exclusive content on tools, podcast appearances, and tips on writing abstracts. Additionally, academiainsider.com offers eBooks, resource packs, a blog, and a forum to support researchers in academia.

Outlines

00:00

🔍 Sourcely: AI-Powered Academic Research Tool

The video introduces Sourcely, an AI-powered tool designed to assist in finding, summarizing, and formatting sources for academic papers. The presenter highlights the free trial feature, allowing users to input their essay or essay title to receive relevant publications. These publications can be downloaded if available in PDF format and come with summaries for quick understanding of the main points. The tool is praised for its affordability at seven dollars a month and for providing sources from reputable sources. It is emphasized that while AI tools like Sourcely are beneficial, they should be used in conjunction with the researcher's own knowledge and not relied upon blindly. The tool is recommended for early-stage researchers struggling to find reliable sources.

05:02

🌟 MirrorThink: General AI for Science

MirrorThink is presented as a comprehensive AI tool that claims to cater to the needs of scientists. It offers features like literature reviews, facts checking, mathematical accuracy through Wolfram Alpha, technology scouting, science funding, and experimental protocols. The presenter notes the tool's user-friendly interface, suitable for those familiar with chat-based AI services. After a brief demonstration, the presenter expresses excitement about the tool's ability to write literature reviews by analyzing and summarizing various papers within a field. MirrorThink is praised for its extensive capabilities, covering all aspects of scientific research, and is recommended for those looking for an all-in-one AI solution for scientific research.

10:04

📊 Julius: Personal AI Data Analysis Tool

Julius is introduced as an AI-powered data analysis tool that acts as a personal data analyst. Users can upload files, and Julius inspects and analyzes the data, providing insights. The presenter discusses the security of data when uploaded to servers, noting that files are session-based and removed after an hour of inactivity. Use cases for Julius span across marketing, healthcare, and academia. The presenter demonstrates how Julius can analyze data from a social survey to determine factors contributing to happiness, showcasing its ability to handle complex data analysis tasks that would typically require paid services.

Keywords

Sourcely

Sourcely is an AI-powered tool designed to assist researchers in finding, summarizing, and formatting sources for academic papers. It is notable for its ability to quickly provide summaries of publications, which can be particularly useful for understanding the main points of a paper without reading it in full. As mentioned in the transcript, Sourcely offers a free trial, allowing users to test its capabilities before committing to a subscription. The tool is highlighted for its affordability and the credibility of the sources it provides, making it a valuable resource for early-stage research.

MirrorThink

MirrorThink is described as a 'General AI for Science,' which is a significant claim indicating its broad application in scientific research. It offers a range of services including literature reviews, fact-checking, technology scouting, and experimental protocols. The tool is capable of producing long-form content and references, which are crucial for scientific writing. It is particularly appealing for its ability to consolidate information from various sources, providing a comprehensive overview of a subject. The transcript also mentions the need for an upgrade to access certain features, indicating a tiered service model.

Julius

Julius is an AI-powered data analysis tool that serves as a personal AI data analyst. It allows users to upload files for analysis, with a focus on various use cases including marketing, healthcare, and academia. The transcript emphasizes the security of data with Julius, stating that files are only available for the current session and are removed from servers after an hour of inactivity. Julius is showcased as a tool that can analyze data to identify features that contribute to a particular outcome, such as happiness in the context of the General Social Survey mentioned.

Hey Science

Hey Science is an AI research assistant that can read and analyze millions of scientific papers. Although not currently available to the public, it is highlighted for its potential to provide a pre-submission review of research papers, similar to feedback from a supervisor or peer review. This feature is seen as a game-changer for researchers who may struggle to get timely feedback on their work. The tool is also mentioned to offer journal recommendations and title suggestions, which can be particularly helpful for early-stage researchers.

Versaill.ai

Versaill.ai is a platform that enables the comparison of multiple language models in real-time. It allows users to input the same prompt into different models, such as OpenAI and Meta Llama, to see how each model responds. This tool is valuable for researchers as it helps them determine which language model might be best suited for their specific needs. The transcript illustrates its use by comparing summaries of organic photovoltaic devices generated by different models.

Academic Papers

Academic papers are formal writings that report original research and are a primary means of communication in the academic world. In the context of the video, academic papers are a key component of the research process and are often the sources that tools like Sourcely and Hey Science help to analyze and summarize. The video emphasizes the importance of finding and understanding these papers for researchers, especially when starting their research.

Literature Review

A literature review is a comprehensive analysis of existing literature on a particular topic. In the video, MirrorThink is shown to be capable of generating a literature review on organic photovoltaic devices, which involves reading and summarizing multiple papers to provide an overview of the current state of research in the field. This is a crucial part of research that helps establish the context for new studies.

Transparent Electrodes

Transparent electrodes are a specific type of conductive material that allows light to pass through while still maintaining electrical conductivity. They are an important component in devices such as solar cells and displays. The video script uses this as an example when demonstrating the capabilities of the AI tools to find relevant academic papers and information on new materials for this application.

Data Analysis

Data analysis involves examining, cleaning, transforming, and modeling raw data to extract useful information, draw conclusions, and support decision-making. Julius, as mentioned in the video, is an AI tool that assists with data analysis by allowing users to upload files and prompt the AI to perform specific analyses, such as identifying factors that contribute to happiness based on survey data.

AI Research Assistant

An AI research assistant, like Hey Science, is a tool designed to automate and streamline various aspects of the research process. It can read and analyze scientific papers, provide feedback on manuscripts, and even suggest improvements or areas for further investigation. This type of tool is portrayed in the video as a valuable asset for researchers, potentially saving time and improving the quality of research outputs.

Language Models

Language models are AI systems that are trained to predict and generate human-like language. In the video, Versaill.ai is used to compare different language models, such as OpenAI and Meta Llama, by inputting the same prompt into each and evaluating the responses. This comparison helps researchers understand the strengths and weaknesses of various models, which can inform their choice of tool for specific research tasks.

Highlights

Sourcely is an AI-powered tool for summarizing and formatting sources for academic papers.

Sourcely offers a free trial to check its capabilities.

Users can input essay titles or text to find relevant academic sources.

Sourcely provides quick access to reputable sources and summaries for citation.

The tool is cost-effective at $7 per month and includes features like essay pasting and source credibility assurance.

MirrorThink is a comprehensive AI for scientific research, offering literature reviews, fact-checking, and more.

MirrorThink's AI agents work together to produce literature reviews and summaries.

Julius is an AI data analysis tool that acts as a personal AI data analyst.

Julius ensures data security by removing files from servers after one hour of inactivity.

Hey Science is an AI research assistant that can read and analyze scientific papers.

Hey Science's AI Reviewer provides feedback similar to peer review before submission.

Versaill.ai allows for real-time comparison of multiple language models.

Different language models can offer varying strengths for different research questions.

Using AI tools in collaboration with personal knowledge is crucial for researchers.

Sourcely, MirrorThink, Julius, Hey Science, and Versaill.ai are powerful tools for researchers.

These tools can significantly streamline the research process and enhance academic work.

The presenter recommends combining these AI tools with resources like illicit.org for comprehensive research.

Staying updated with the latest AI research tools is essential for researchers to maintain an edge.