Are you feeling lost in the library catalog? The good news is, you’re not alone. If you’re new to research, searching for academic sources can feel overwhelming–especially when your search pulls up thousands of results. It can be difficult knowing where to start or how to revise. Using popular Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT may sound tempting, but they can give you inaccurate information and fake references. To improve the user experience, FSU Libraries now offers an AI add-on to the OneSearch catalog, called AI Research Assistant. This beta version was designed to help our users intuitively search and discover academic sources in the FSU and statewide library catalogs.
Want to learn more about what it can do, how to access it, and how it can help during the research process? Read on, or check out our guide for more information.
How does it work?
With the OneSearch AI Research Assistant, users can explore library resources by simply typing in a research question. The system automatically builds a comprehensive set of keywords and boolean operators, otherwise known as a search string, that can be used to search library databases or search engines. With this search string users can explore sources that are relevant to the research question and can be found from the FSU library or other statewide library collections.
Key Features
The AI Research Assistant can:
- Provide the top five relevant sources for each query (can be a mix of articles, dissertations, and books), with the option to view a comprehensive set of search results by clicking “View More Results”
- Create a comprehensive search string to explore more results in the OneSearch catalog
- Provide an overview of the top five sources with inline references
- Provide related research questions that can be used for brainstorming
Limitations to Keep in Mind
Though the AI Research Assistant provides accurate citations and does not fabricate sources, it’s not a chatbot. Unlike ChatGPT or other AI models, it does not recognize chat context, and does not support conversational follow-up responses.
Furthermore, it cannot summarize or analyze individual articles, and since it’s still in beta, there may be slow response times. It’s also important to note that all AI tools and models have an inherent bias, and the OneSearch AI Assistant may provide occasional bias in results.
How to Access
Users can access the AI Research Assistant in three main places:
- FSU Libraries Homepage
- OneSearch Top Banner
- Research Assistant Widget
For step-by-step instructions with screenshots on how to access, please check out the “How to Access & Use” page of our guide.
Best Use Cases
This tool is ideal for:
- Generating a quick overview of key sources
- Exploring themes related to your research
- Creating comprehensive search strings
However, for graduate students and faculty members conducting extensive literature and systematic reviews, the tool may be more helpful as just a starting point to your research. Those looking for more specialized research help can request a consultation with their subject librarian.
Conclusion
The OneSearch AI Research Assistant is a positive step towards making the research process and discovering library resources more intuitive for our users. If you would like to learn more about the AI Research Assistant, including more details on how to access it, how to cite AI-generated conent, and activities to try, take a look at our guide: https://guides.lib.fsu.edu/RA or contact your subject librarian.
We’d like to hear from you! The AI Research Assistant is still currently in beta. The library will be gathering feedback until Spring 2026, after which we will decide whether to add it to the OneSearch catalog as a permanent feature. Try out the AI Research Assistant today and let us know what you think by filling out this survey form!
Leave a Reply