## AI tools for finding literature

Although generative AI sometimes looks like a search engine, it is not a reliable tool for serious literature research. This is because these tools usually do not have access to recent scholarly articles, nor to major academic databases. The information you get is often outdated (mostly from before 2020), and AI can even invent sources that do not exist.

#### What can be useful?

- Finding search terms or synonyms for your search strategy.

- An initial orientation on a topic.

- Reformulating your research question or asking for explanations of difficult concepts.

#### What are the risks and limitations?

- No access to up-to-date scholarly literature.

- No access to reliable databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, or PubMed.

- Risk of fabricated or incorrect references.

- Content is not verifiable or transparent (you don’t know where the information comes from).

- Not suitable for conducting a thorough or systematic literature search.

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#### Useful resource:

Utrecht University has an overview page on AI tools and their applications in education: UU LibGuide on AI tools

#### In short:

#### Use AI tools wisely and consciously. For serious literature research, searching in academic databases remains the most reliable method.