Elsevier Launches ScienceDirect AI to Provide Summarized Research Insights

ScienceDirect AI is built on large language model (LLM) and machine learning technology, enabling researchers to generate summaries of full-text articles and engage with documents through a chat interface. Researchers can also compare key aspects of different experiments using a summary table. Elsevier states that the tool was developed with input from over 30,000 researchers and librarians from 70 universities and R&D intensive corporations globally.

According to Elsevier’s Insights 2024: Attitudes toward AI report, 94% of researchers believe AI will help accelerate knowledge discovery, but 95% are concerned about misinformation. Elsevier reports that ScienceDirect AI was developed to address these concerns by ensuring traceability and providing clear references to the original sources.

The tool features three main functions: 

• The "Ask ScienceDirect AI" function allows researchers to query the database and receive a summary response with references and source snippets. 
• The "Reading Assistant" function enables users to ask questions about a specific document, with answers linked to the original text. 
• The "Compare Experiments" tool creates a table comparing experimental goals, methods, and results across multiple articles.

Judy Verses, Elsevier’s president of academic and government markets, said ScienceDirect AI is designed to reduce the time researchers spend sifting through literature by up to 50%. Elsevier also stated that the tool was developed according to its Responsible AI Principles and Privacy Principles, with all data processed in a secure environment.

ScienceDirect AI is available for purchase and integrates with Elsevier’s existing products, including Scopus AI, which provides broader research insights by analyzing data from over 7,000 publishers. ScienceDirect AI focuses on detailed, article-level analysis, complementing Scopus AI’s broader research landscape view.