Baylor University Leverages AI to Enhance Research Capabilities
Baylor University is integrating artificial intelligence into its academic research landscape by providing access to the Scopus AI tool. This tool leverages AI to sift through the Scopus database, aiming to streamline the research process for both students and faculty.
Scopus AI functions by synthesizing information from their extensive databases to create topic summaries and direct users to relevant academic articles. This initiative aligns with a growing trend among academic research databases to incorporate AI-driven search functionalities.
According to Billie Peterson-Lugo, Associate Dean of Library Collections, Systems, and Digital Services, the objective is to fundamentally change how research is conducted. ‘[Scopus AI] can provide a comprehensive overview while also highlighting key researchers in the field,’ she explained. ‘For anyone writing a paper on a specific topic, it can significantly aid in the research phase, helping them find sources and better understand areas for exploration.’
Peterson-Lugo also emphasized the benefit of accessing predominantly peer-reviewed articles, providing a high level of reliability for research. She believes the tool provides a significant benefit to students and faculty alike. ‘[Scopus AI] would be helpful to a faculty member or graduate student that maybe is doing higher level research, that maybe the AI will help them discover information that was more difficult [to be] discovered previously,’ she added.
However, not everyone views these technological advancements with complete optimism.
Peter McDonald, a doctoral candidate in the political science department, expressed caution regarding the accuracy of tools like Scopus AI. ‘I don’t personally use it,’ McDonald stated. ‘I don’t fully trust they’ve gone to the point where they can make accurate descriptions [and] accurate analysis of the material. I think there are a lot of people who are worried about that.’
Despite his skepticism, McDonald acknowledges the potential benefits of AI in research: ‘I think AI could really help the drudgery of that, give good summaries and things like that. I think it could potentially help with composition of things like literature reviews, once it gets good enough.’
Peterson-Lugo encourages both students and professors to embrace the resources the library provides, including Scopus AI. She believes that doing so will encourage better research and lead to an enhanced understanding of the topics being researched. She made sure to note that it is still a very new technology, one that will only improve in time.
