## 4.1. When is an AI tool useful?

AI tools don’t magically solve everything. They are instruments that need to be used wisely, depending on your goal. That’s why you should always start by asking yourself: “What do I want to achieve?” Are you looking for help with structuring a text, finding literature, analyzing data, or generating ideas? Each AI tool has its own strengths and challenges. An AI tool like Copilot, for example, is useful for brainstorming or rephrasing text. However, such a chatbot is less suitable for finding reliable sources. For that purpose, tools like Elicit or Consensus are more appropriate. These AI tools explicitly refer to scientific literature.

Making a good decision also means learning to recognize when AI tools support your learning process and when they distract you from thinking for yourself. So don’t use AI tools as a shortcut, but as a sparring partner. Think of it as a toolbox: you choose the right tool for the right task.