The Best Use Cases and Tools for AI Research
January 14, 2025
Artificial intelligence (AI) has changed how we explore data, test hypotheses, and innovate. AI opens new doors for clinical trials, academic research, or product development. But with so many tools and methods available, how do you choose the right ones?
In this guide, we’ll discuss the best use cases and tools for AI research and offer insights into how AI systems like Gemini, Perplexity, and ChatGPT can help your work.
What is AI Research?
AI research is the study and development of AI systems designed to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence. This field combines disciplines like machine learning, neural networks, and natural language processing to solve complex problems.
AI research spans applied research in industries such as healthcare, technology, and finance and fundamental research exploring the theoretical foundations of intelligence. The possibilities are vast, from creating large language models to improving accuracy in clinical trials.
Organizations like the National Science Foundation and National AI Research Institutes help advance artificial intelligence research by funding groundbreaking projects and supporting PhD students in their pursuit of innovation.
How is AI Being Used in Research?
AI can accelerate data analysis, uncover patterns, and improve decision-making. Here are some areas where AI is making an impact:
Medical and Clinical Research
AI systems help clinical trials and diagnostics with impressive results. For example, an AI system identified prostate cancer with 84% accuracy, compared to 67% by human doctors. This shows AI’s ability to improve diagnostics and deliver earlier and precise disease detection.
Additionally, AI is accelerating drug discovery, reducing costs by up to 70%. This is a significant advancement for medical research and development.
Academic Research
A survey revealed that 86% of students use AI tools in their studies, with 66% relying on platforms like ChatGPT to search for information and summarize documents. These tools save time by quickly analyzing large volumes of literature and generating hypotheses.
Environmental Science
AI algorithms process extensive environmental data to model climate patterns. This aids in accurate predictions and informed decision-making. For instance, AI has achieved breakthroughs in weather and climate forecasting to enable more precise long-term predictions and tracking of extreme weather events.
Corporate Research and Development (R&D)
Businesses use AI for applied research and product development. The healthcare AI market, a major component of corporate R&D, grew from $1.1 billion in 2016 to $22.4 billion in 2023. This growth reflects the growing reliance on AI to innovate, reduce development time, and test prototypes virtually. AI helps companies to analyze consumer behavior and respond to market needs more effectively.
These links underscore AI’s role as a catalyst for advancements across medical, academic, environmental, and corporate fields.
What is the Best AI for Research?
Choosing the best AI tool for research depends on your goals, the type of data you work with, and the level of analysis you need. Below, we explore three powerful AI tools designed to assist researchers across various domains:
Gemini - Google’s AI Platform for Advanced Research
Gemini is Google’s AI platform that integrates deeply with Google’s suite of products. Gemini’s cutting-edge features offer powerful support for analyzing large datasets, generating reports, or translating content.
Key Features
- Text Generation - Gemini can create high-quality content—from detailed research summaries to polished articles.
- Contextual Understanding - Its advanced natural language processing ensures accurate and relevant responses, even for complex queries.
- Multimodal Inputs - Gemini supports text, image, and voice inputs, enabling users to work across various media types.
- Real-Time Translation - Researchers can access high-quality translations in multiple languages.
- Customizable Workflows - Gemini simplifies repetitive processes to with options to tailor workflows to specific tasks.
Pricing
Gemini offers several pricing plans to cater to different user needs:
- Free Tier - Access basic features at no cost, ideal for casual users.
- Gemini Advanced - $19.99/month, includes features like the 1.5 Pro model and a 1 million token context window.
- Business Plan - $20/month per user (with a one-year commitment), designed for integration with Google Workspace apps.
- Enterprise Plan - $30/month per user (with a one-year commitment), providing full access to all features and priority support.
Why Choose Gemini?
Gemini stands out for its integration with Google’s ecosystem, making it perfect for those already using Google Workspace. Its multimodal capabilities and real-time translation features are invaluable for researchers working on global or multidisciplinary projects.
Additionally, its customizable workflows allow users to focus more on innovation and less on manual tasks.
Perplexity - The AI-Powered Search and Research Assistant
Perplexity, powered by its own advanced Large Language Model (LLM), is a standout tool in AI-driven research and information retrieval. Its LLM is designed to process complex queries with precision and offers detailed and contextually relevant responses that go beyond surface-level results.
Key Features
- Advanced Search Capabilities - Delivers detailed insights across a vast array of topics.
- Real-Time Web Search - The platform keeps users up-to-date with the latest information and breaking news.
- Transparent Source Citation - Perplexity always cites the sources for its answers to ensure credibility and reliability in the information provided.
- File Analysis - You can upload documents for summarization and in-depth analysis.
- User-Friendly Interface - Even first-time users can navigate its features effortlessly.
Pricing
Perplexity caters to both casual and advanced users with its tiered pricing model:
- Free Tier - Includes basic features with limited daily searches, perfect for occasional use.
- Perplexity Pro Plan - $20 per month or $200 annually, offering:
- Up to 300 Pro Searches per day.
- Access to advanced AI models like GPT-4 Omni and Claude 3 Sonnet/Opus.
- File analysis for document processing.
- $5 monthly API credit for extended capabilities.
- Dedicated support channels.
Why Choose Perplexity?
Perplexity combines speed, accuracy, and transparency. Its ability to retrieve real-time information while citing reliable sources builds trust in its answers. Features like file analysis and advanced search capabilities are perfect for professionals working on complex projects.
HR professionals can use Perplexity to analyze employee surveys or research market trends, while project managers can use it for organizing documentation and exploring best practices.
ChatGPT - The AI Companion for Research and Beyond
ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI, is an advanced conversational AI tool powered by large language models. It is designed to assist users with various tasks, from drafting emails and writing code to answering questions and synthesizing complex information.
Key Features
- Natural Language Understanding - ChatGPT, powered by OpenAI's GPT technology, generates human-like text to make conversations intuitive and productive.
- Versatility - It handles diverse tasks like content creation, coding, document summarization, and keyword research. Its ability to read and analyze external links makes it great for research and information retrieval.
- Contextual Awareness - ChatGPT retains context within conversations to ensure coherent and relevant responses across multiple queries.
- Accessibility - Available through web apps, mobile apps, and API integration.
Pricing
ChatGPT is accessible to a wide range of users:
- Free Plan - Provides access to basic features using the GPT-4o model, ideal for casual users.
- ChatGPT Plus - For $20 per month, subscribers benefit from priority access, faster responses, and early access to new features.
- Pro - For advanced research, such as PhD-level inquiries, users might find this option more suitable, offering extended capabilities and performance enhancements. Costs $200 monthly.
- Team and Enterprise Plans - Tailored for organizations, these plans offer enhanced features, higher usage limits, and integration capabilities.
Why Choose ChatGPT?
ChatGPT stands out for its ability to simplify complex tasks and deliver high-quality, context-aware responses. For researchers, it can summarize published papers, draft hypotheses, and assist with data analysis. Its intuitive interface and versatile applications make it a reliable partner in any research workflow.
Marketers can use it to generate campaign copy, analyze audience trends, or draft performance reports.
How to Use AI for Research
Now that you’re familiar with some of the best AI tools for research, let’s explore how you can put them into action. Here's how you can integrate them into your research process:
Literature Review and Information Gathering
AI-powered tools like Elicit and Semantic Scholar simplify the literature review process. They analyze vast databases to identify relevant studies. This capability allows researchers to focus on critical analysis instead of manual data collection.
Data Analysis and Interpretation
Machine learning algorithms excel at processing complex datasets, uncovering patterns, and making predictions. In scientific research, AI has been shown to significantly boost productivity, with studies indicating a 44% increase in material discoveries and a 39% rise in patent filings among scientists using AI tools.
For example, you can upload datasets from Google Forms and ask ChatGPT to identify patterns in the answers. This saves you time in going over the data manually. But make sure to know the datasets really well. ChatGPT has the tendency to mix external data in the discussion. Always specify to only analyze the file you uploaded.
Writing and Editing Assistance
AI-driven writing assistants, such as ChatGPT, help draft and refine research papers. They improve clarity and coherence, allowing researchers to produce high-quality manuscripts more efficiently.
Experimentation and Simulation
AI enables the simulation of complex scenarios and facilitates hypothesis testing without the need for physical experiments. In drug development, AI-driven data integration and automation help shape clinical research and lead to more efficient and accurate outcomes.
Enhancing Collaboration
AI-powered platforms facilitate collaboration by organizing research data and enabling seamless sharing among team members. This integration enhances efficiency and accuracy in research processes.
Other Ways to Use AI for Research
AI can support a variety of specialized areas beyond traditional research tasks like literature reviews and data analysis. Here are some innovative ways to use AI for research in different domains:
AI for Product Research
AI tools help analyze customer feedback, market trends, and competitor strategies to inform product development. AI helps researchers identify unmet needs and predict product performance by processing large datasets from reviews, social media, and sales records. This approach reduces the guesswork when creating or improving products.
AI for UX Research
User experience (UX) research benefits from AI’s ability to process behavioral data. Tools like heatmaps, sentiment analysis, and user flow prediction use AI to understand how people interact with digital products. These insights help design teams make data-driven decisions to improve usability and engagement.
AI for Design Research Methods
AI accelerates design research by analyzing visual and textual data to identify emerging trends. Designers can use AI-driven platforms to explore creative possibilities, test prototypes, and simulate user interactions. This speeds up the design process and ensures designs are grounded in real-world insights.
AI for Keyword Research
In marketing and SEO, AI-powered keyword tools can analyze search trends, identify high-performing keywords, and suggest content strategies. AI systems like ChatGPT or specialized platforms like SEMrush enable researchers to stay ahead in competitive industries by uncovering what audiences are searching for and why.
By exploring these additional use cases, you can discover new opportunities to innovate and stay competitive in your field.
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Use Meeting Transcripts for AI Research
Effective research often relies on capturing and analyzing information from meetings, brainstorming sessions, and interviews. AI tools like Tactiq take this a step further by transforming your meeting transcripts into actionable insights. Here’s how Tactiq supports your research process:
- Automatic Transcription: Tactiq provides real-time transcriptions for meetings across Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams.
- Searchable Archives: Store and organize your transcripts, so you can easily revisit and extract specific information for your research.
- Custom AI Prompts: Use AI-powered prompts to ask questions directly from your meeting transcripts, gaining instant insights tailored to your research needs.
- Workflow Integration: Tactiq integrates with popular tools like Notion and HubSpot, enabling seamless updates to your research notes and knowledge bases.
- Multilanguage Support: Transcribe meetings in 30+ languages, making Tactiq ideal for global research teams.
Tactiq is more than a transcription tool; it acts as an AI research assistant that helps you extract key takeaways and organize your findings. Tactiq ensures that every conversation contributes to your research goals. Download the free Tactiq Chrome extension today!
Wrapping Up
AI transforms research by simplifying complex tasks. From literature reviews to data analysis, tools like Gemini, Perplexity, and ChatGPT cater to diverse research needs. These tools help simplify workflows and enable researchers to focus on solving problems and exploring new possibilities.
Meanwhile, Tactiq ensures that meeting discussions on Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams are captured and turned into actionable insights. AI tools help you better collaborate and innovate whether you’re brainstorming product ideas, enhancing UX, or conducting academic studies.
By integrating AI into your workflow, you can make meaningful advancements in your field. Explore these tools today and unlock the full potential of AI-driven research.
Want the convenience of AI summaries?
Try Tactiq for your upcoming meeting.
Want the convenience of AI summaries?
Try Tactiq for your upcoming meeting.
Want the convenience of AI summaries?
Try Tactiq for your upcoming meeting.