AI Research Tools in the Library

The Ebook Central Research Assistant uses GPT-4o mini to analyze individual book chapters and produce chapter insights and key concepts. This Research Assistant utilizes Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) to make sure that all generated responses are based only on the book chapter, reducing the chances of hallucinations.

**Ebook Central Research Assistant is currently in Beta**

To use the Research Assistant, simply access an eBook through Ebook Central. When you enter the online reader, you can access the Research Assistant by clicking on its icon in the sidebar navigation. Start by selecting a chapter to analyze. Then, open the Research Assistant and select one of two current options: Show Key Takeaway from This Chapter or Show Concepts Discussed This Chapter.

When asked to show concepts discussed in a chapter, the Research Assistant will generate 5 key points contained in the chapter with a short summary describing them. When asked to show the key takeaway from a chapter, the Research Assistant will summarize the chapter's thesis in one sentence, along with providing additional topics the chapter discusses. This tool is useful for finding relevant eBooks for your research.

The Proquest Research Assistant for Dissertations & Theses Global uses the same AI technology as Ebook Central to generate: the "key takeaway;" brainstorm "related research topics;" and to describe the "important concepts" found within a dissertation/thesis.

The ProQuest Research Assistant also provides search links you can click on that take you to a customized search within the Dissertations & Theses Global database. These options help you to quickly summarize a dissertation/theses, so you can effectively find the best source for your research. They also help in brainstorming research topics and providing an effective search query within the database to find more sources.