AI Resources

A type of artificial intelligence that can generate content based on patterns learned from its training data.  Some examples of generative AI tools include: ChatGPT, Claude, DeepSeek, Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, Midjourney, Dal-E, Grammarly, and Perplexity. Seek approval of your course instructor before using these or other generative AI tools for your coursework. 

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LinkedIn Learning has a growing number of courses and content about AI. “A Beginner’s Guide to Generative AI” is a good collection to start with!

AI is enhancing how you search and discover information in the library. Library discovery tools now use machine learning to improve search relevance, suggest related resources, and even understand natural language queries (e.g., “articles about climate change and public policy in the last 5 years”). These features help you find what you need faster and more accurately. Read more at: Harnessing the power of AI in academic libraries. Through the library, you also have access to several generative AI tools that can assist you with your research, such as JSTOR’s Research Tool, Statista Research AI, and the library’s Research Assistant.

The library’s Research Assistant tool leverages AI to use natural language queries to connect you with library resources. Simply ask a question and get directed to library resources on that topic. You can refine your question or filter results by the type of resource you want, resource dates, and availability. Research Assistant is continually being updated, so check back for additional features.

AI tools like ChatGPT or Copilot can be helpful for brainstorming, summarizing, or generating citations—but they’re not always accurate. When using these tools with library resources, it’s important to:

• Verify citations using the library’s databases or citation lookup tool.
• Avoid plagiarism by not copying AI-generated content without proper attribution.
• Use AI ethically, especially in academic work, by following your instructor’s or department’s guidelines.

When in doubt, librarians are here to help you navigate responsible use.

Your course instructor’s AI guidelines found in their course syllabus should provide clarity on what uses of generative AI tools are acceptable for that course. These guidelines are not universal and can vary from course to course according to the will of the instructor and the nature of the course. If you are unclear about whether a particular use of AI tools is acceptable, please ask your instructor before using the tool(s). The Bruin Guide prohibits the use of “submitting material that in part or whole is not one’s own work” as well as “submitting one’s own work without properly attributing the correct sources of its content.” Be mindful of these prohibitions when using AI in your coursework.

Seek the explicit approval of your course instructor before using tools such as Grammarly to assist you with writing.

AI tools can sometimes fabricate sources or misquote information. To evaluate reliability:

• Check if the source actually exists by searching the library’s databases or Google Scholar.
• Look for peer-reviewed or scholarly indicators, such as journal names, DOIs, or publisher information.
• Cross-reference facts with trusted academic sources. If a citation or article seems suspicious, ask a librarian—we’re happy to help verify it.

Seek prior authorization from your course instructor before using a large language model (LLM) such as ChatGPT or Claude in your coursework. There are a handful of ways you can responsibly use LLMs to assist you in your research process (as opposed to using them to write or generate the content of your project). These ways include generating search keywords, building subject knowledge, and forming research questions or problems. Verify the accuracy of the LLM responses during your research process and refine your prompts as necessary. Provide detailed written acknowledgment of your use of AI during your research process. Do not use LLMs to generate the content for your project unless specifically approved by your course instructor.

A type of artificial intelligence that can generate content based on patterns learned from its training data. Some examples of generative AI tools include: ChatGPT, Claude, DeepSeek, Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, Midjourney, Dal-E, scite.AI, Grammarly, and Perplexity.

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LinkedIn Learning has a growing number of courses and content about AI. “A Beginner’s Guide to Generative AI” is a good collection to start with!

Belmont University has a license for an exciting AI tool called scite.AI that serves as a great starting point for conducting literature reviews. Scite is a database of both millions of articles and billions of citations. It provides citation evaluation and analysis to help you find relevant literature.

Get more information and sign up

The research guide, "Generative AI for Students: Citing and Documenting AI Use," offers essential resources for effectively and ethically incorporating AI-generated content into academic work.

Use the Generative AI for Faculty: Citing and Publishing with AI research guide to learn about the increasingly relevant policies of various academic publishers regarding the use of AI in the publishing process.

For questions regarding AI and scholarly publishing, contact Scholarly Communications Librarian, Claire Walker Wiley.