Generative AI Technologies in Library Databases

ECU Libraries licenses many databases for scholarly research. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly integrated into these academic library resources, with particular growth in the use of generative AI tools in the discovery of research. AI-powered features—such as discovery assistants—aimed at enhancing the user experience and streamlining research support are integrated into the library databases and research tools. This guide introduces many that are available on major platforms and illustrates how they can aid in research and discovery. 

These tools support researchers by enabling natural language querying and performing a variety of tasks, such as summarizing content, identifying key concepts, and suggesting related resources. The AI assistants are helpful as a starting point in research discovery, but it's important to remember that mistakes can occur in the information provided so checking information is vital and an important part of the process of using these tools. Resources suggested are produced from curated content on the platform. 

For a comprehensive list of the library's databases, please visit our A-Z Database List. 

• AI tools are not intended as replacements for traditional research methods of researching, 
  but rather designed to streamline discovery and offer additional insights into research articles.
• Several tools are currently in beta release and are actively being fine-tuned for optimal performance.
• Many tools operate using a limited corpus—often restricted to the publisher's own platform—which may constrain the breadth of results.
• AI-generated summaries can contain inaccuracies, so critical evaluation of the information is essential.
• If you have questions about these technologies, please reach out to a librarian Get Help.