Can AI replace traditional research?

No — it's a research assistant, not a replacement. Use it to speed up gathering and summarizing, then verify and think for yourself.

Does AI cite its sources?

When using web search, AI draws on live results. For academic work, always find and cite the original sources yourself.

What's the best way to research with AI?

Start with a specific question, use web search for current info, summarize long sources, then organize findings into an outline. Ask follow-up questions to dig deeper.

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How to Use AI for Research

Research used to mean hours of searching, skimming, and note-taking. AI can speed up every step — finding sources, summarizing them, and organizing your findings — so you spend less time gathering and more time thinking.

The short answer

Use AI to search the web for current information, summarize long sources into key points, and organize your notes into a structured outline. Then verify the important facts yourself — AI is a research assistant, not a replacement for your judgment.

Step 1: Start with a clear question

Instead of 'tell me about X,' ask 'What are the main arguments for and against X?' or 'What are the latest developments in X?' A specific question gets a focused, useful answer.

Step 2: Use web search for current info

AI training data has a cutoff. For anything recent — news, market data, scientific developments — use an AI with web search (Botivio includes it on every message). Ask it to search and summarize the top findings.

Step 3: Summarize your sources

Upload PDFs or paste long articles and ask the AI to summarize the key points. This lets you cover more ground quickly and decide which sources deserve a full read.

Step 4: Organize your findings

Once you have notes from multiple sources, ask the AI to group them by theme, find patterns, or turn them into a structured outline. This turns scattered notes into a usable foundation for your paper, report, or article.

Common mistakes to avoid

Don't trust AI-generated facts without verification — it can hallucinate sources or get details wrong. Don't skip the original sources; AI summaries are a starting point, not a substitute. And don't ask vague questions; the more specific you are, the more useful the answer.