SciSpace AI Copilot — Read and understand research with AI research reading assistant

Summary

SciSpace Copilot is an AI research assistant that revolutionizes the way you engage with research papers. It simplifies the process of understanding complex jargon and dense information by allowing you to ask questions, highlight sections for explanations or summaries, and even choose your preferred language from 75 options. The tool streamlines research reading, making it more efficient and accessible, whether you're a student, early researcher, or exploring outside your domain. With features like 'Explain math and table' and the ability to follow up with questions, Copilot ensures a comprehensive understanding of the material. It also helps in note-taking, brainstorming questions, and discovering related papers, all within the platform.

Takeaways

• 🧠 SciSpace Copilot is an AI research assistant designed to help users interact with and understand complex research papers more efficiently.
• 📚 It addresses the challenge of comprehending dense information and jargon in research papers, especially for students, early researchers, or those outside their domain.
• ⏰ Copilot enhances research reading efficiency, allowing users to read more papers in less time, which is ideal for those with limited time.
• 🔗 The platform can be accessed by logging into SciSpace and uploading PDFs or linking a Zotero account to import an entire library.
• 🌐 A unique feature allows users to choose their preferred language from 75 options, making research papers accessible in one's native language.
• 🤔 Users can select confusing sections of a paper and request explanations, summaries, or related papers directly through the Copilot chat box.
• 📊 The 'Explain math and table' button enables users to get explanations for mathematical equations or tables within the PDF.
• 🔗 Answers provided by Copilot include citations, allowing users to trace the source of information and verify the accuracy.
• 📝 Users can highlight important information and save Copilot's insightful responses as notes for future reference.
• 🔍 After reading, users can request Copilot to show related papers, which will recommend similar articles from the SciSpace repository.
• 🌐 Copilot also offers a Chrome extension for broader utility beyond the SciSpace platform, enhancing research and reading across various websites.

Q & A

What is SciSpace Copilot?

SciSpace Copilot is an AI research assistant designed to help users interact with and understand complex topics and jargon in research papers more effectively.

Why might someone need an AI assistant like Copilot to understand research papers?

Research papers can be dense and filled with unfamiliar terms, making them difficult to understand, especially for students, early researchers, or those reading outside their domain. Copilot helps make the process more efficient and comprehensible.

How does the efficiency of research reading improve with Copilot?

Copilot allows users to read more papers in less time by simplifying explanations, providing summaries, and offering related papers, thus enhancing the research reading process.

What are the steps to start using SciSpace Copilot?

First, log in to SciSpace and create an account if necessary. Then, upload PDFs or link a Zotero account to import the library. Open a PDF and use the Copilot chat box on the right side of the screen.

How does the language selection feature in Copilot assist users?

Copilot offers 75 language options, allowing users to choose their preferred language for understanding papers, which is beneficial for those who are not fluent in English.

What can users do when they encounter a confusing section in a research paper?

Users can select the confusing text and ask for an explanation, summary, or related papers through the Copilot interface, depending on their needs.

How does the 'Explain math and table' feature work in Copilot?

This feature allows users to select any mathematical equation or table within a PDF and receive an explanation, making complex data more accessible.

What is the purpose of the 'follow up' button in Copilot?

The 'follow up' button enables users to ask additional questions if they have doubts or need further clarification on the simplified answers provided by Copilot.

How does Copilot provide citations with its answers?

Copilot includes citations in its answers, and users can hover over them to find the source of the information, ensuring transparency and allowing users to locate the original context.

What is the Scope button in Copilot used for?

The Scope button lets users select the source of information for their queries, such as the current PDF, the user's library, or the broader SciSpace database of over 270 million papers.

How can users save important information and responses while using Copilot?

Users can highlight important information in the PDF and save insightful Copilot responses as notes for future reference.

What additional features does Copilot offer besides aiding in reading comprehension?

Copilot can also be used to create outlines, presentations, and offers a Chrome extension for use on various websites, extending its utility beyond just research papers.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introducing SciSpace Copilot: Your AI Research Assistant

In this tutorial, Kevin introduces SciSpace Copilot, an AI research assistant designed to enhance the understanding of complex research papers. He explains that while traditional reading methods have their place, research papers can be dense and challenging, especially for students and early researchers or those reading outside their field. The AI assistant aims to make the process more efficient by allowing users to interact with the text, ask questions, and highlight sections for further explanation or summary. The video demonstrates how to use the platform by logging in, uploading PDFs, linking a Zotero account, and utilizing the Copilot chat box for language preferences and text analysis. The assistant can simplify explanations, summarize large sections, and even explain mathematical equations or tables. Users can also follow up with questions, and the platform provides citations for answers, allowing for easy source verification. The video concludes with additional features like brainstorming questions, saving notes, and finding related papers.

05:02

🌐 SciSpace Copilot: Enhancing Research Experience

The video concludes with a call to action for viewers to share their experiences with SciSpace Copilot in the comments section and to ask any questions they might have. The host reassures viewers that they will be back with more content, encouraging interaction and engagement with the platform. The video also mentions the availability of a Chrome extension for SciSpace Copilot, which can be used on various websites to enhance the research experience beyond the confines of the SciSpace platform.

Keywords

💡AI research assistant

An AI research assistant is an artificial intelligence tool designed to aid in the research process by performing tasks such as reading and summarizing academic papers. In the context of the video, SciSpace Copilot is an AI research assistant that helps users interact with and comprehend complex research papers. It is particularly useful for students, early researchers, or those reading outside their domain of expertise, as it simplifies the process of understanding dense academic material.

💡SciSpace Copilot

SciSpace Copilot is the specific AI research assistant discussed in the video. It is a platform that allows users to upload PDFs of research papers and interact with them through a chat interface. The tool is designed to enhance the reading and comprehension of research papers by providing explanations, summaries, and related papers, making it easier for users to grasp complex concepts and save time.

💡PDF

PDF stands for Portable Document Format, a file format used to present documents in a manner independent of application software, hardware, and operating systems. In the video, PDFs are the primary format for research papers that users interact with through SciSpace Copilot. The tool allows users to upload PDFs to their account for processing and interaction.

💡Zotero

Zotero is a reference management software that helps scholars collect, organize, cite, and share research sources. In the video, it is mentioned as a service that can be linked to a SciSpace account, allowing users to import their entire library of research papers into SciSpace Copilot with ease.

💡Explanation

In the context of the video, 'explanation' refers to the service provided by SciSpace Copilot where it simplifies complex text or concepts from research papers into more comprehensible language. This feature is particularly useful when users encounter dense or unfamiliar information in their readings.

💡Summary

A 'summary' in this video refers to the concise overview of a research paper's content provided by SciSpace Copilot. When users are short on time or need a quick grasp of the paper's main points, they can select passages and request a summary, which helps them to quickly understand the essence of the paper.

💡Follow up

The term 'follow up' in the video script refers to the ability of users to ask additional questions after receiving an initial explanation or summary from SciSpace Copilot. This feature allows for a more interactive and dynamic reading experience, where users can clarify doubts or explore topics in greater depth.

💡Citations

Citations are references to the source of information used in a piece of academic writing. In the video, it is mentioned that Copilot's answers include citations, which users can hover over to see the source of the information. This feature is crucial for academic integrity and allows users to trace the origins of the information they are reading.

💡Scope

In the video, 'scope' refers to the range of sources from which SciSpace Copilot can draw information to answer user queries. Users can choose the scope to include the current PDF, their entire library, or the broader collection of papers available on SciSpace, thus tailoring the tool to their specific needs.

💡Chrome extension

A 'Chrome extension' is a software add-on for the Google Chrome web browser that can modify the browser's behavior or add new features. The video mentions that SciSpace Copilot has a Chrome extension, allowing users to interact with the AI assistant across various websites, not just within the SciSpace platform.

💡Related papers

In the context of the video, 'related papers' refers to the feature of SciSpace Copilot that recommends similar articles or research papers to the user after they have finished reading a particular paper. This helps users to discover additional relevant literature and broaden their understanding of a subject.

Highlights

Introducing SciSpace Copilot, an AI research assistant designed to help users interact with and understand complex research papers.

Research papers can be dense and full of unfamiliar terms, making them challenging to comprehend for students and early researchers.

Copilot aims to increase research reading efficiency, allowing users to read more papers in less time.

The process begins by logging into SciSpace and uploading or linking a Zotero account to import PDFs.

Users can select text within a PDF and request an explanation, summary, or related papers through the Copilot chat box.

SciSpace Copilot supports 75 languages, enabling non-English speakers to understand papers in their native language.

The 'Explain text' feature simplifies complex abstracts or sections for easier comprehension.

The 'Summarize' function provides concise summaries of large passages for quick understanding.

The 'Explain math and table' button offers explanations for mathematical equations or tables within the PDF.

Doubts can be clarified by using the 'follow up' button to ask questions directly related to the simplified answers.

Answers from Copilot include citations, allowing users to trace the source of information within the PDF or SciSpace's repository.

Users can select the source of information, such as the current PDF, personal library, or SciSpace's extensive database.

SciSpace Copilot streamlines the research process by allowing users to clear doubts without leaving the platform.

Pre-existing questions and brainstorming features help users generate paper-specific inquiries.

Important information and insightful Copilot responses can be highlighted and saved as notes within the PDF.

After reading, users can request related papers, and Copilot will recommend similar articles from the SciSpace repository.

Copilot's capabilities extend beyond paper comprehension, including creating outlines and presentations.

A Chrome extension is available for SciSpace Copilot, enhancing its utility across various websites.

Users are encouraged to share their experiences and ask questions in the comments section.

Transcripts

Why just read a PDF when you can interact with it?

Ask questions whenever you have a doubt,

And

Highlight confusing sections to  get explanations and summaries

Hi, there! I’m Kevin

Welcome back to another tutorial video.

This time, I’ll take you through SciSpace  Copilot, our AI research assistant that  

helps you interact with and understand jargon  and complex topics in research papers better.

You might be thinking what’s  wrong with good ol’ reading?  

Why do I need an AI assistant  to understand papers better?

The thing is, research papers  can be difficult to understand.

They can be full of dense information  and unfamiliar terms at times,  

making it an uphill task to  comprehend what’s written if  

you’re a student or an early researcher or  even reading papers outside your domain.

Or sometimes, you’re short on time. You can’t  invest one entire day to go through one paper,  

re-reading it over and over again.

Copilot can help you become more  efficient at research reading and  

you end up reading more papers in lesser time.

Alright, so now let’s get to how it works.

It’s pretty simple.

You log in to SciSpace. Create  an account if you haven’t.

Upload all the PDFs on your reading list.

Or, if you have a Zotero account,  

simply link it to your SciSpace account.  You will import your entire library.

Next, open the PDF you’re going to read.

You’ll see, there’s the full text on the left.

And on the right, there is the Copilot chat box.

Before you start asking questions, there’s  something cool you should know about.

If you click this button on the top right, you can  choose your preferred language from 75 options.

We understand not everyone is fluent in  English. But there’s no reason why you  

can’t understand papers in your native language.

Ok, so you’re reading and reading, and  you come across something confusing.

Like this abstract seems quite dense.

So, you select it, and then choose whether you  want an explanation, a summary or related papers.

Right now I need to know what this means in a  simplified manner, so I’ll choose explain text.

And there you go, Copilot gives an  explanation in a more comprehensible language.

Similarly, if you’re running short on time  and want to get through a paper quickly,  

select large passages in  the PDF and click summarize.

You’ll get a concise summary.

There’s this little button at the  bottom called Explain math and table.

When you click on it, you can select any maths  equation or a table and find explanations for it.

Even though the answers are simplified,  

you can still have a doubt. It’s  okay, we’re all humans, after all.

If that’s the case, you can hit the  “follow up” button here and ask a question.

Like “what unique foraging behaviours  does the heliconius butterfly show?”

Copilot will give you the answer.

You see here, the answers have citations  in them. If you hover over them,  

you can find where these answers are  coming from and then locate the source.

By clicking on the Scope button here at the  bottom, you can choose the source of information.

Like this particular PDF, your library,  or 270 million+ papers on SciSpace.

I’ve currently selected all SciSpace papers so one  

of the citations in this answer  redirects to another paper.

This way, you can clear your doubts  simultaneously while reading a paper,  

instead of opening a new tab, searching on Google,  and then eventually spiraling into something else.

That’s pretty much an overview of how  you can comprehend a paper better.

Apart from this, there is a  general set of pre-existing  

questions that can help you get started.

Then you can also ask Copilot  to brainstorm questions to get  

any potential paper-specific questions.

You can always highlight important information in  

the PDF and save insightful  Copilot responses as notes.

Finally, once you’re done reading  the article, you can ask Copilot  

to show related papers and it will recommend  similar articles in the SciSpace repository.

All this is just one of the  ways you can use Copilot.

You can create outlines, presentations, and so  much more. Whatever your imagination allows.

Copilot also has a Chrome extension that  you can use on pretty much any website,  

science or otherwise. Install  it today if you haven’t already.

That will be all for today.

Make sure you share your unique experiences with  SciSpace Copilot in the comments section below.

And if you have any questions  for us, feel free to ask.

I’ll catch you again next time!