research paper reader app

Audemic Scholar

Audemic Scholar enables PhDs and researchers to transform stale research PDFs into a time-saving reading and listening experience.

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Audemic Insights

Audemic Insights app summarizes open research articles and reports into brief written and audio summaries for the non-academic.

Access any academic research via audio

A powerful tool that enables Ph.D. students and researchers to save time and organise their knowledge

• No credit card required
• Cancel anytime

Used by 10,000+ users at top leading institutions

Upload your paper

Upload the PDF of any academic paper or import it from your reference manager.

Listen to it

Listen to any academic paper. Choose between the full text or key statements.

Organise yourself

Built for researchers.

Speed up your reading

It will allow you to read and understand papers in much less time, especially for getting to grips with some of the knottier papers.

Inspiration

More 'Aha' moments

Need help reading academic papers, taking notes or organising your research? Audemic allows you to do all of this from one place, so you don’t miss a thing.

Multi-device

Accessible from anywhere

Audemic arrives with the ability to use across devices. Listen when you drive, exercise and even when you rest!

Text-to-speech

No robotic but neural voices

Well read, no stumbling over tricky words and with the possibility of choosing between different voices.

Translation

Language is no longer an obstacle

Scientific knowledge is mostly communicated in English, which may pose a barrier for non-native English speakers. Upload any paper and choose the language you want to translate it into*

* English to Spanish currently available

Need another language? Let us know

Crafted to be accessible

Reading papers can be challenging, especially for those with learning disabilities. We offer features that might support your reading style.

Want to go faster or slower? Not a problem! You can now change the speed of audio playback, sloth to cheetah!

VISUAL IMPAIRMENT

Order sections

Organise the sections of any paper you upload, according to your every whim, from the left-hand sidebar.

Background colour

Change your background colour to one of four handsome options. We know that little visual details can make a big difference.

COLOUR BLINDNESS

Dyslexic font

All of these changes will join our classic dyslexic font option, so you can set up your Audemic experience exactly the way you want it.

No hidden charges. Pick your plan.

Try it for free. If you like it, upgrade to Premium and enjoy unlimited access.

• Free forever
• Full interactive reader access
• Access to summaries
• 5-paper credit

• Unlimited highlights
• Up to 16 papers

• Dedicated account manager
• Potential integration with LMS or knowledge platform

billed at $118/yr 

• Unlimited papers

No unresolved doubts!

Things you probably wonder.

Get the most out of academic papers, whilst spending less time on them. Audemic allows you to ditch clunky PDFs to provide better listening with intuitive navigation across different sections of the paper, smart summaries, and gives you the ability to easily take and sync highlights across all your devices.

You can use Audemic for free , receiving 5 credits to start ! To use Audemic for more papers you can upgrade to premium.

PDF’s of research papers

Yes, it is currently available as a web app, so it can be accessed via mobile on Google Chrome, Safari and other browsers.

You can email [email protected] .

Not currently, but we are working hard on this!

You can email  [email protected] , or use the chat-bot available right on the App.

The best way to do this is through our Product Road site but you can also contact us at [email protected] or or tag us to a post on social media! (i.e. LinkedIn ,  Instagram , TikTok or X ).

You can request an invoice by emailing  [email protected] .

RECOGNITIONS

On the road to transform academic research

Our efforts to change the way academic research is consumed are being recognized internationally.

APE 2023 Conference Dotcom to Watch

2022 global edtech startups awards winner, 2023 elections de la tech finalist, 2022 vesalius innovation award finalist, 2023 aws edstart member, digifest 2023 keynote speaker.

TESTIMONIALS

Our wall of love

See what others say about us on the world wide web.

Blog Podcast

Privacy policy Terms of service

Subscribe to our newsletter!

Streamline Your Research Workflow

Seamlessly Search, Save and Organise findings across your papers. Complete your research up to 10x faster.

LOVED BY ACADEMICS

For literature reviews & collecting evidence

"Lateral is an AI-powered app for academics that will completely change the way you read and take notes."

"Lateral presents a visual table which not only allows me to quickly identify themes but also relevant quotes and phrases (with references!) that could have easily been overlooked without."

"Lateral is a necessary tool for academics! It has changed my research...I am good to go for all new opportunities."

"Lateral is an excellent tool for academics and one of the hidden gems among the many productivity tools available out there!"

SMART FEATURES

Your unified workflow

Take the stress out of document review. Find text fast. Stay organised.

Auto-Generated Table

Keep a clear overview of all your findings and never lose a reference.

AI-Powered Concepts

Name a Concept, and Lateral intelligently recommends relevant text across all your papers.

Super Search

Search across all your papers at once & see similar highlights for every search result.

Smart PDF Reader

Read & highlight in the browser. Find connections you may have missed.

Export Your Findings

From the Table View directly into a Word document or Excel file with references.

Find 30m+ research papers

Upload existing PDFs or find new papers through our integrated paper search.

Powerful OCR

Digitize text from documents from scanned PDFs to make the searchable & highlightable .

Collaborate & Share

Invite others to your workspace or share a limited public link of your project.

Zotero integration (coming soon)

Easily sync documents between Zotero and your project.

Literature Reviews

Find patterns and common themes across numerous papers quickly.

Dissertations

Organize thoughts and references to streamline the writing process.

Note-taking

Save text with notes and flags for more organized note-taking.

Collaborative Research

Work on shared project & documents and build on each other's findings.

Gather information across various sources for curriculum development.

Find connections and gather background information for stories.

Get to know Lateral for free.

500 Page Credits one-time

Speed up your research workflow.

21,600 Page Credits per year

Take your research to the next level.

60,000 Page Credits per year

Academic Discount

We offer a 20% Academic Discount on both Premium and Pro Tiers. Simply fill out the form on the pricing page in the app.

Team Pricing

Build a shared, AI supported knowledge repository or purchase multiple licenses.

1,800 Page Credits per month

5,000 Page Credits per month

What are Page Credits?

When you begin using Lateral and add PDF files, it uses up 'Page Credits' based on how many pages are in your PDFs. You start with 1,000 Page Credits when you join. Once you use them all, you’ll have to get a subscription plan, called Lateral Supreme, to get more Credits. If you delete any documents, this will not return Credits. If you have a Supreme subscription, you can buy extra Credits.

What is Lateral Supreme?

Lateral Supreme is a subscription that you can pay for every month or once a year. If you choose to pay each month, you can use up to 2,500 Page Credits within that month. If you decide to pay for the whole year at once, you can use up to 30,000 Page Credits for the entire year. Any unused Page Credits will expire; they don’t roll over to the next month or year.

When you add papers or documents to a project, Lateral does a lot of heavy lifting to make the content searchable and suggestible. Each page uses 1 page credit. Taking an average of 20 pages per paper for example, this means for Premium monthly 2,160 pages are around 108 papers and for Pro monthly 5,000 pages are around 250 papers.   Deleting documents does not re-add page credits, as the processing of the documents has already been completed.

Does Lateral use GPT?

No, Lateral does not use GPT. We have built our own machine learning technology (LIP API) to make content suggestions. Your content is not sent to Open AI servers.  

What happens to the documents I upload to Lateral?

When you upload documents, they stay private and only you can see them in your workspace. We don’t share them with other users. Also, we don’t use your documents to make our AI smarter. Our AI is already trained and it just helps you find related content across your documents.

What languages does Lateral support?

The app works best with English. You can keyword search for text in other languages, but the AI currently can only give suggestions if you're using English.

Does Lateral work on mobile?

Currently Lateral is only available on desktop.

Get into flow.

Apps for Academics: Reading and Annotating

• Productivity
• Library Research
• Reading and Annotating
• Writing and Citing
• Audio and Video
• Visualizing Information

Ask a Librarian

Chat with a Librarian

Lisle: (630) 829-6057 Mesa: (480) 878-7514 Toll Free: (877) 575-6050 Email: [email protected]

Book a Research Consultation Library Hours

Annotate PDFs

• GoodReader Robust PDF reader with advanced annotating capabilities, excellent file manager, text file reader and editor, audio/video player, Safari-like viewer for MS Office and iWorks files. Syncs with Google Docs, Dropbox and more.
• iAnnotate Annotate, manage, search, and share PDF documents.
• Mendeley Mendeley is a free reference manager and academic social network. Make your own fully-searchable library in seconds, cite as you write, and read and annotate your PDFs on any device.

Follow Multiple Blogs in One Place

• Feedly The content of your RSS feeds, news sites and blogs are transformed into pocket-sized cards which load very fast and are easy to browse.
• Flipboard View news, blogs, and social network content in a magazine-layout that emphasizes linked content, videos, and photos.

Read eBooks

• BlueFire Reader Your go-to reading application for ePUB and PDF content, including BenU Library subscription eBooks from ebrary.
• iBooks iBooks is an amazing way to download and read books. iBooks includes the iBooks Store, where you can download the latest bestselling books or your favorite classics
• Kindle Read your Amazon Kindle books even if you don't have a Kindle. Automatically syncs your last page read between devices. Delete a book when you're done and Amazon keeps your copy online for later retrieval. Adjust text size, add bookmarks, and more.
• Overdrive and Libby ebooks Use your public library's Libby app through Overdrive to download free ebooks to your device.

Read Saved Webpages Offline

• Pocket Save articles, videos, recipes, and webpages you find online or from apps, like Flipboard and Feedly.
• Instapaper Save, read, and manage the things you find online. Instapaper syncs the articles and videos you save so that they’re waiting for you on all your devices. You can read anything you save, even offline. Highlight and comment on text in any article so you can store it, retrieve it, quote it and share it.
• << Previous: Library Research
• Next: Writing and Citing >>
• Last Updated: Jul 6, 2023 4:49 PM
• URL: https://researchguides.ben.edu/apps

Kindlon Hall 5700 College Rd. Lisle, IL 60532 (630) 829-6050

Gillett Hall 225 E. Main St. Mesa, AZ 85201 (480) 878-7514

Analyze research papers at superhuman speed

Search for research papers, get one sentence abstract summaries, select relevant papers and search for more like them, extract details from papers into an organized table.

Find themes and concepts across many papers

Don't just take our word for it.

Tons of features to speed up your research

Upload your own pdfs, orient with a quick summary, view sources for every answer, ask questions to papers, research for the machine intelligence age, pick a plan that's right for you, get in touch, enterprise and institutions, custom pricing, common questions. great answers., how do researchers use elicit.

Over 2 million researchers have used Elicit. Researchers commonly use Elicit to:

• Speed up literature review
• Find papers they couldn’t find elsewhere
• Automate systematic reviews and meta-analyses
• Learn about a new domain

Elicit tends to work best for empirical domains that involve experiments and concrete results. This type of research is common in biomedicine and machine learning.

What is Elicit not a good fit for?

Elicit does not currently answer questions or surface information that is not written about in an academic paper. It tends to work less well for identifying facts (e.g. “How many cars were sold in Malaysia last year?”) and theoretical or non-empirical domains.

What types of data can Elicit search over?

Elicit searches across 125 million academic papers from the Semantic Scholar corpus, which covers all academic disciplines. When you extract data from papers in Elicit, Elicit will use the full text if available or the abstract if not.

How accurate are the answers in Elicit?

A good rule of thumb is to assume that around 90% of the information you see in Elicit is accurate. While we do our best to increase accuracy without skyrocketing costs, it’s very important for you to check the work in Elicit closely. We try to make this easier for you by identifying all of the sources for information generated with language models.

What is Elicit Plus?

Elicit Plus is Elicit's subscription offering, which comes with a set of features, as well as monthly credits. On Elicit Plus, you may use up to 12,000 credits a month. Unused monthly credits do not carry forward into the next month. Plus subscriptions auto-renew every month.

What are credits?

Elicit uses a credit system to pay for the costs of running our app. When you run workflows and add columns to tables it will cost you credits. When you sign up you get 5,000 credits to use. Once those run out, you'll need to subscribe to Elicit Plus to get more. Credits are non-transferable.

How can you get in contact with the team?

Please email us at [email protected] or post in our Slack community if you have feedback or general comments! We log and incorporate all user comments. If you have a problem, please email [email protected] and we will try to help you as soon as possible.

What happens to papers uploaded to Elicit?

When you upload papers to analyze in Elicit, those papers will remain private to you and will not be shared with anyone else.

How accurate is Elicit?

Training our models on specific tasks, searching over academic papers, making it easy to double-check answers, save time, think more. try elicit for free..

A paper reader to help you stay focused

Paperly is specially designed for researchers, offering you the most effective way to read, review and think..

Trusted by the world's top university researchers

A real sense of academic reader

Away from inefficient checking infomation operations, you'll get what you need at where you read

Note and review

Take notes in different papers and review them at a whole, able to return to the original context

Statistics and inspiration

Automatically generated mind graph does a great favor for global thinking

Focused Reading

Help you stay focused to read, by preparing all things you need, wysiwyg citation what you see is what you get, check the citation at where you see it, glance over references in sidebar, able to be filterd by citation selecting, mark citations for later reading, metadatas (doi, abstract, keyword, etc.) are provided by one click, take notes, which can be reviewed, give you the power to take full control of your understandings, add tags to any note, to orgnize them neatly, paper linking, link papers to any note, to build meshed understanding, review notes by timeline, which can be turned back to their context, scholar mind map, a graphic way to check your papers & notes & ideas, paper & keyword, your personal keywords based on what you read, note & tag, visualize notes and tags, better way to mangage your minds, sync with the best cloud storage service, it's super easy to sync it through google drive, dropbox, one drive or any other cloud service., ready paperly now is free, paperly is specially designed for researchers, and a first real sense of academic reader. try it.

* Free version has unlocked all features except document importing number limit to 10． If you want to import more documents, consider buy now

Listen to Research Papers & Retain More

Featured In

Table of contents, listen to research papers aloud: we show you how, types of research papers, how text to speech works, technical language, length and density, time constraints, accessibility issues, proofreading, benefits of listening while reading research papers, text highlighting, speed controls, lifelike voices, ocr scanning, how you can listen to research papers aloud with the speechify website, how you can listen to research papers with the speechify chrome extension, how you can listen to research papers aloud with the speechify app, scan and listen to printed research papers with the speechify app, try speechify and read any text aloud, frequently asked questions.

Listen to research papers aloud and boost productivity and comprehension with our TTS.

In the realm of academia, research papers are a cornerstone for disseminating knowledge and contributing to the growth of various fields. However, the dense and technical nature of these papers can pose a challenge for many readers. Fortunately, text to speech (TTS) technology has emerged as a powerful tool to aid in the consumption of all academic papers. This article will explore different types of research papers, delve into the challenges of reading them, and highlight the benefits of using TTS, with a special focus on Speechify as a premier TTS app for academic purposes.

Research papers are a cornerstone of academic exploration, acting as vehicles for the dissemination of knowledge and the advancement of various fields. Within the realm of scholarly writing, a diverse array of research papers exists, each tailored to specific objectives and methodologies, including:

• Analytical research papers: These delve into breaking down and examining a subject, often presenting an in-depth analysis of complex ideas or concepts.
• Argumentative or persuasive research papers: These papers aim to convince the reader of a particular viewpoint, often involving the presentation of evidence and logical reasoning.
• Cause and effect research papers: Focused on exploring the relationships between events, these papers aim to identify the causes and consequences of a particular phenomenon.
• Compare and contrast research papers: These papers highlight similarities and differences between two or more subjects, encouraging critical thinking and analysis.
• Definition research papers: These aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of a specific concept or term, often clarifying its various facets.
• Experimental research papers: Centered around scientific experiments, these papers detail the methodology, results, and conclusions of research studies.
• Interpretative research papers: These involve the interpretation of data, literature, or artistic works, requiring a nuanced understanding of the subject matter.
• Survey research papers: Based on survey data, these papers analyze and present findings from questionnaires or interviews.

Text to speech (TTS) is a technology that converts written text into spoken language. This innovative system enables computers, devices, or applications to audibly articulate the content of written material, ranging from articles and documents to emails and web pages.

TTS works by processing the input text through algorithms that analyze linguistic elements, such as syntax and semantics, to generate a corresponding audio output. The synthesized speech can be delivered in a variety of voices and accents, often aiming for a natural and human-like sound.

TTS serves a crucial role in enhancing accessibility, aiding individuals with visual impairments or learning disabilities, and providing a versatile solution for consuming written content in situations where reading may be impractical or inconvenient.

Challenges of reading research papers and how text to speech can help

Studying often involves grappling with the challenges presented by research papers. As we navigate through these dense repositories of knowledge crucial for intellectual growth, one powerful ally emerges to mitigate these challenges: text to speech (TTS) technology. Let’s unravel the challenges posed by academic texts and delve into how TTS emerges as a transformative tool, enhancing accessibility, efficiency, and overall engagement:

One of the primary challenges of reading research papers is the abundance of technical language and specialized terminology. For individuals not well-versed in the specific field, deciphering these terms can be a daunting task. Text to speech (TTS) technology addresses this challenge by providing an auditory component to the reading process. Hearing the content aloud can aid in pronunciation, contextual understanding, and overall comprehension of intricate terms. By engaging multiple senses, TTS assists readers in navigating the intricate linguistic landscape of academic papers.

Research papers are often lengthy and densely packed with information, requiring dedicated time and mental focus to absorb the content fully. TTS can alleviate this challenge by allowing users to listen to papers while performing other tasks or listen at a faster rate than physical reading allows. By breaking down the information into manageable auditory segments, TTS enables users to absorb complex concepts without the need for prolonged, uninterrupted reading sessions.

Busy schedules, whether due to academic, professional, or personal commitments, can limit the time available for in-depth reading and analysis of research papers. TTS provides a solution by offering a more time-efficient means of consuming academic content. Users can listen to research papers during activities such as commuting, exercising, or doing household chores, maximizing the utility of their time and seamlessly integrating learning into their daily routines.

Traditional reading methods can pose accessibility challenges for individuals with conditions such as dyslexia, vision issues, or attention disorders. TTS technology serves as an inclusive solution, offering an alternative mode of content consumption. By listening to research papers, individuals with learning differences can overcome barriers related to text-based challenges, making academic content more accessible and fostering a more equitable learning environment. TTS also addresses eye strain issues associated with prolonged reading, promoting a more comfortable reading experience.

Writing research articles can be difficult and re-reading them for typos can seem even more daunting. Text to speech platforms offer a distinct advantage in catching typos and grammatical errors that might be easily missed during traditional visual proofreading. By listening to your research paper, you engage a different cognitive process, allowing you to detect discrepancies in syntax, grammar, and word choice more effectively. This dual approach to proofreading, both visual and auditory, enhances the overall accuracy of your written work, ensuring that typos are promptly identified and rectified, contributing to the production of polished and error-free research papers.

Listening while reading research papers can significantly enhance the learning experience. Combining auditory input with the visual engagement of reading creates a multimodal learning approach that caters to different learning styles. The act of listening to text to speech read research papers aloud can help improve concentration and maintain focus during the often rigorous and dense process of digesting such content. This dual-input method not only reinforces comprehension but also aids in retaining information by tapping into multiple cognitive channels. Additionally, it can make the learning process more dynamic and enjoyable, potentially reducing the perceived difficulty of understanding complex topics.

Why Speechify is the best text to speech for reading research papers

In the ever-expanding landscape of text to speech (TTS) applications, Speechify emerges as a standout contender, particularly for the discerning academic reader. Navigating the intricate realm of research papers demands a tool that not only provides seamless functionality but also caters to the diverse needs of scholars and learners. Speechify, with its comprehensive set of features and user-friendly design, stands out as the premier TTS app for reading research papers. Here are just a few unique features that position Speechify as the go-to TTS app for the academic community, elevating the reading experience for research papers to unprecedented heights:

Speechify offers text highlighting synchronized with the audio, facilitating better retention and comprehension. This feature is especially beneficial for individuals with dyslexia, ADHD, and other learning differences, who benefit substantially from following along with the text as it is read aloud.

Users can adjust the reading speed to suit their preferences, enabling a customized and comfortable listening experience. Students can easily slow down the reading as they take notes or speed up the reading to meet deadlines or boost productivity.

Speechify boasts a diverse range of 200+ natural-sounding voices indistinguishable from human speech across 30+ various languages and accents, accommodating a global audience and providing an immersive reading experience.

The OCR scanning functionality allows users to convert printed or handwritten text into digital format, enabling students to listen to any digital or physical text aloud.

How to read research papers aloud with Speechify

Speechify, the leading text to speech app, provides an unparalleled solution for listening to research papers aloud, offering a seamless and enriching experience for academic readers. In fact, let’s explore how you can use the Speechify website, Chrome extension, or app to listen to research papers, including how to listen to scanned research papers.

You can listen to research papers straight from the Speechify website. Simply follow the steps below:

• Open your web browser and navigate to Speechify.com
• Sign in or create an account if you haven't already.
• Tap “New” in the left-hand toolbar.
• Click “Text Document.”
• Copy and paste the research paper copy into the text box.
• Press submit.
• Customize the voice, reading speed, and other preferences.
• Click the "Play" button to listen to your research paper with Speechify.
• Enjoy a seamless and accessible reading experience right in your web browser.

If your favorite browser is Google Chrome, you can also listen to research papers by using the Speechify Chrome extension. Here’s a breakdown of how to get started:

• Install the Speechify Chrome extension from the Chrome Web Store.
• Click on the Speechify icon in your browser toolbar.
• Sign in or create an account.
• Select the text you want to read and choose your desired settings.
• Click the "Play" button on the Speechify pop-up to start the text to speech conversion.
• Listen to the content being read out loud while you browse the web, and even adjust settings on the fly.

If you’d like to read research papers on the go, follow this easy tutorial showing how to use the Speechify app:

• Download the Speechify IOS or Android app from the App store or Google Play store.
• Open the app and sign in or create a new account.
• Tap “Add” on the bottom toolbar.
• Choose “From your computer.”
• Choose files and import your research paper or copy and paste text into the app.
• Customize voice preferences, reading speed, and other settings.
• Tap the “Play” button to begin listening to the converted content.
• Use the app’s additional features, such as highlighting text or changing the voice for a more interactive reading experience.

You can even read printed research papers with Speechify. Follow this guide to use the Speechify app to scan pictures of your physical documents:

• Download the Speechify IOS or Android app on your mobile device from the App store or Google Play store.
• Choose “Scan Pages.”
• Grant Speechify access to your camera.
• Use the OCR scanner to take photos of the research paper you wish to convert to audio files.
• Press “Next” in the bottom right hand corner.
• Click “Listen” in the top right hand corner.
• Press “Save.”
• Tap the "Play" button to begin listening to the new audio version of your research paper.
• Customize the settings to suit your preferences, such as reading speed and voice selection.
• Enjoy hands-free learning while you focus on comprehension or follow along as the text is highlighted.

Navigate through dense research papers, craft concise summaries or Google Doc annotations, review social science notes, explore journal articles, read ChatGPT responses, or immerse yourself in academic journals, check emails, and listen to research papers with the help of Speechify. Whether you're a student, researcher, or lifelong learner, Speechify makes it easy to transform any text into speech. Try Speechify for free today and transform your reading experience all while taking advantage of its user-friendly design and innovative features.

Can text to speech read HTML tags?

Yes, text to speech software, such as NaturalReader or Speechify can read HTML tags and citations aloud, making it easier to follow the structure of the paper and understand the sources cited.

How can I listen to my paper aloud?

Speechify allows you to easily listen to any physical or digital text aloud. Sign up for free and check it out today.

How can text to speech benefit language learners?

Text to speech can benefit language learners by improving their pronunciation and listening skills, increasing vocabulary and comprehension, and providing access to a variety of materials in the target language.

What are the best podcasts for academic research?

For academic research, some of the best podcasts include "The Research Report Show" and "Research in Action," which provide insights into the latest research across various fields.

What are the best audiobooks for academic research?

Some of the best audiobooks about researching include, How to Read a Book by Mortimer Adler and The Craft of Research by Wayne Booth, Gregory Colomb, and Joseph Williams. These audiobooks are highly recommended for academic researchers.

How can I listen to research papers on an iPhone?

You can listen to any text aloud, including research papers on an iPhone using the Speechify app.

ChatGPT 3 Text to Speech: Explained

Alternatives to Podcastle.ai for Podcast Creators

Cliff Weitzman

Cliff Weitzman is a dyslexia advocate and the CEO and founder of Speechify, the #1 text-to-speech app in the world, totaling over 100,000 5-star reviews and ranking first place in the App Store for the News & Magazines category. In 2017, Weitzman was named to the Forbes 30 under 30 list for his work making the internet more accessible to people with learning disabilities. Cliff Weitzman has been featured in EdSurge, Inc., PC Mag, Entrepreneur, Mashable, among other leading outlets.

The best AI tools for research papers and academic research (Literature review, grants, PDFs and more)

As our collective understanding and application of artificial intelligence (AI) continues to evolve, so too does the realm of academic research. Some people are scared by it while others are openly embracing the change. 

Make no mistake, AI is here to stay!

Instead of tirelessly scrolling through hundreds of PDFs, a powerful AI tool comes to your rescue, summarizing key information in your research papers. Instead of manually combing through citations and conducting literature reviews, an AI research assistant proficiently handles these tasks.

These aren’t futuristic dreams, but today’s reality. Welcome to the transformative world of AI-powered research tools!

This blog post will dive deeper into these tools, providing a detailed review of how AI is revolutionizing academic research. We’ll look at the tools that can make your literature review process less tedious, your search for relevant papers more precise, and your overall research process more efficient and fruitful.

I know that I wish these were around during my time in academia. It can be quite confronting when trying to work out what ones you should and shouldn’t use. A new one seems to be coming out every day!

Here is everything you need to know about AI for academic research and the ones I have personally trialed on my YouTube channel.

My Top AI Tools for Researchers and Academics – Tested and Reviewed!

There are many different tools now available on the market but there are only a handful that are specifically designed with researchers and academics as their primary user.

These are my recommendations that’ll cover almost everything that you’ll want to do:

Want to find out all of the tools that you could use?

Here they are, below:

AI literature search and mapping – best AI tools for a literature review – elicit and more

Harnessing AI tools for literature reviews and mapping brings a new level of efficiency and precision to academic research. No longer do you have to spend hours looking in obscure research databases to find what you need!

AI-powered tools like Semantic Scholar and elicit.org use sophisticated search engines to quickly identify relevant papers.

They can mine key information from countless PDFs, drastically reducing research time. You can even search with semantic questions, rather than having to deal with key words etc.

With AI as your research assistant, you can navigate the vast sea of scientific research with ease, uncovering citations and focusing on academic writing. It’s a revolutionary way to take on literature reviews.

• Elicit –  https://elicit.org
• Litmaps –  https://www.litmaps.com
• Research rabbit – https://www.researchrabbit.ai/
• Connected Papers –  https://www.connectedpapers.com/
• Supersymmetry.ai: https://www.supersymmetry.ai
• Semantic Scholar: https://www.semanticscholar.org
• Laser AI –  https://laser.ai/
• Inciteful –  https://inciteful.xyz/
• Scite –  https://scite.ai/
• System –  https://www.system.com

If you like AI tools you may want to check out this article:

• How to get ChatGPT to write an essay [The prompts you need]

AI-powered research tools and AI for academic research

AI research tools, like Concensus, offer immense benefits in scientific research. Here are the general AI-powered tools for academic research. 

These AI-powered tools can efficiently summarize PDFs, extract key information, and perform AI-powered searches, and much more. Some are even working towards adding your own data base of files to ask questions from. 

Tools like scite even analyze citations in depth, while AI models like ChatGPT elicit new perspectives.

The result? The research process, previously a grueling endeavor, becomes significantly streamlined, offering you time for deeper exploration and understanding. Say goodbye to traditional struggles, and hello to your new AI research assistant!

• Consensus –  https://consensus.app/
• Iris AI –  https://iris.ai/
• Research Buddy –  https://researchbuddy.app/
• Mirror Think – https://mirrorthink.ai

AI for reading peer-reviewed papers easily

Using AI tools like Explain paper and Humata can significantly enhance your engagement with peer-reviewed papers. I always used to skip over the details of the papers because I had reached saturation point with the information coming in. 

These AI-powered research tools provide succinct summaries, saving you from sifting through extensive PDFs – no more boring nights trying to figure out which papers are the most important ones for you to read!

They not only facilitate efficient literature reviews by presenting key information, but also find overlooked insights.

With AI, deciphering complex citations and accelerating research has never been easier.

• Aetherbrain – https://aetherbrain.ai
• Explain Paper – https://www.explainpaper.com
• Chat PDF – https://www.chatpdf.com
• Humata – https://www.humata.ai/
• Lateral AI –  https://www.lateral.io/
• Paper Brain –  https://www.paperbrain.study/
• Scholarcy – https://www.scholarcy.com/
• SciSpace Copilot –  https://typeset.io/
• Unriddle – https://www.unriddle.ai/
• Sharly.ai – https://www.sharly.ai/
• Open Read –  https://www.openread.academy

AI for scientific writing and research papers

In the ever-evolving realm of academic research, AI tools are increasingly taking center stage.

Enter Paper Wizard, Jenny.AI, and Wisio – these groundbreaking platforms are set to revolutionize the way we approach scientific writing.

Together, these AI tools are pioneering a new era of efficient, streamlined scientific writing.

• Jenny.AI – https://jenni.ai/ (20% off with code ANDY20)
• Yomu – https://www.yomu.ai
• Wisio – https://www.wisio.app

AI academic editing tools

In the realm of scientific writing and editing, artificial intelligence (AI) tools are making a world of difference, offering precision and efficiency like never before. Consider tools such as Paper Pal, Writefull, and Trinka.

Together, these tools usher in a new era of scientific writing, where AI is your dedicated partner in the quest for impeccable composition.

• PaperPal –  https://paperpal.com/
• Writefull –  https://www.writefull.com/
• Trinka –  https://www.trinka.ai/

AI tools for grant writing

In the challenging realm of science grant writing, two innovative AI tools are making waves: Granted AI and Grantable.

These platforms are game-changers, leveraging the power of artificial intelligence to streamline and enhance the grant application process.

Granted AI, an intelligent tool, uses AI algorithms to simplify the process of finding, applying, and managing grants. Meanwhile, Grantable offers a platform that automates and organizes grant application processes, making it easier than ever to secure funding.

Together, these tools are transforming the way we approach grant writing, using the power of AI to turn a complex, often arduous task into a more manageable, efficient, and successful endeavor.

• Granted AI – https://grantedai.com/
• Grantable – https://grantable.co/

Best free AI research tools

There are many different tools online that are emerging for researchers to be able to streamline their research processes. There’s no need for convience to come at a massive cost and break the bank.

The best free ones at time of writing are:

• Elicit – https://elicit.org
• Connected Papers – https://www.connectedpapers.com/
• Litmaps – https://www.litmaps.com ( 10% off Pro subscription using the code “STAPLETON” )
• Consensus – https://consensus.app/

Wrapping up

The integration of artificial intelligence in the world of academic research is nothing short of revolutionary.

With the array of AI tools we’ve explored today – from research and mapping, literature review, peer-reviewed papers reading, scientific writing, to academic editing and grant writing – the landscape of research is significantly transformed.

The advantages that AI-powered research tools bring to the table – efficiency, precision, time saving, and a more streamlined process – cannot be overstated.

These AI research tools aren’t just about convenience; they are transforming the way we conduct and comprehend research.

They liberate researchers from the clutches of tedium and overwhelm, allowing for more space for deep exploration, innovative thinking, and in-depth comprehension.

Whether you’re an experienced academic researcher or a student just starting out, these tools provide indispensable aid in your research journey.

And with a suite of free AI tools also available, there is no reason to not explore and embrace this AI revolution in academic research.

We are on the precipice of a new era of academic research, one where AI and human ingenuity work in tandem for richer, more profound scientific exploration. The future of research is here, and it is smart, efficient, and AI-powered.

Before we get too excited however, let us remember that AI tools are meant to be our assistants, not our masters. As we engage with these advanced technologies, let’s not lose sight of the human intellect, intuition, and imagination that form the heart of all meaningful research. Happy researching!

Thank you to Ivan Aguilar – Ph.D. Student at SFU (Simon Fraser University), for starting this list for me!

Dr Andrew Stapleton has a Masters and PhD in Chemistry from the UK and Australia. He has many years of research experience and has worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow and Associate at a number of Universities. Although having secured funding for his own research, he left academia to help others with his YouTube channel all about the inner workings of academia and how to make it work for you.

Thank you for visiting Academia Insider.

We are here to help you navigate Academia as painlessly as possible. We are supported by our readers and by visiting you are helping us earn a small amount through ads and affiliate revenue - Thank you!

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Papers by ReadCube is the simplest way to read, manage and discover research literature. Papers on your iPhone and iPad are the perfect companions to the Papers desktop software, enabling you to access your papers anywhere – read on the go, organize your library, and annotate PDFs with notes and highlights. Enhanced PDF: • Tap-able inline citations, reference lists, and author names so you can quickly find cited articles and related information • Supplements are automatically attached where available • Fullscreen or double-page PDF viewing plus multi-touch zoom/navigation for an optimal reading experience • Multi-color highlighting and note taking tools Easily find new papers: • Search the Papers databases within the app • Quickly download new articles with a single tap when you’re on campus or with your institutional proxy • Import directly from Safari, email attachments, and other apps • In your preferred browser, use any search engine to find article PDFs • Use the “Open In…” option from the browser or any app to add PDFs to your Papers library • Metadata is automatically resolved - no more guessing with cryptic file names Personalized Recommendations: • Discover relevant new papers based on your library or lists – you’ll never miss another important paper again! Stay organized: • Create custom lists and sort articles into one or multiple lists • Quickly search your entire library (and all annotations) • Add any number of #tags to further customize your library organization • Sync everything – papers, notes, highlights – between the Papers desktop and web apps or your other mobile devices Simplify your research life – try Papers for free on your iPhone, iPad, and computer. We love feedback from our users - please email [email protected] with any suggestions or issues. Thanks for using Papers!

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Covid-19 accelerated the digitalisation of payments

Key takeaways.

• The Covid-19 pandemic has boosted the use of digital and contactless payments.
• Cash in circulation reached a decade high due to a surge in demand for high-value banknotes, suggesting that cash was increasingly held as a store of value rather than for making payments.
• The pandemic has added to the motivations of central banks to develop central bank digital currencies (CBDCs).

Summary of latest developments 1

The Covid-19 pandemic accelerated the digitalisation of payments. The latest Red Book Statistics from the BIS Committee on Payments and Market Infrastructures (CPMI) show that consumers have shifted from physical cash to digital and contactless payment instruments at a rate unprecedented since the start of the Red Book Statistics. At the same time, and as in earlier stress episodes, the value of cash in circulation surged.

Non-cash payments

The pandemic 2 has made a marked impact on non-cash payments. 3 In particular, the total value of non-paper-based or digital credit transfers grew strongly in both advanced economies (AEs) and emerging market and developing economies (EMDEs). These payments include transfers initiated via online banking, a mobile banking app or an automated transfer. As a result, the growth in total credit transfer usage was so strong that the share of non-cash payments in total GDP sharply increased across the globe ( Graph 1 left-hand panel). This, together with a decline in the share of private consumption expenditure in GDP suggests a meaningful move away from cash payments.

In addition to the decline in cash payments, the growth in the number of card payments lost momentum or even declined in various jurisdictions ( Graph 1 centre panel). The shift away from cash and cards towards digital credit transfers is probably driven by a combination of ongoing trends and Covid-19-related developments. The latter include (i) the worldwide migration to working-from-home; (ii) temporary shutdowns of shops, hotels and restaurants; (iii) some merchants refusing cash payments; 4 (iv) the surge in e-commerce; 5 (v) the growth in digital person-to-person payments; 6 and (vi) the distribution of Covid-19 benefit payments by governments. 7

In all jurisdictions from which the CPMI collects contactless card data, the share of contactless payments in total card transactions increased in 2020 at its highest rate since 2015 ( Graph 1 right-hand panel). 8 This may be explained by public fears of contagion 9 and associated policy measures. For example, banks and card companies in many countries raised their value limits for contactless card payments in response to the pandemic. 10

In 2020, on average, AE residents made close to twice as many cashless payments as residents of EMDEs. Yet, both groups of countries are similar in that most of these payments were made using a debit or credit card ( Graph 1 centre panel). Also, as credit transfers are more often used for settling payments of higher value, all over the world, credit transfers accounted for the largest share of cashless payments in terms of value ( Graph 1 left-hand panel).

Click here for an interactive version of this graph

Cash withdrawals and cash holdings

The decline in cash usage during the Covid-19 pandemic is also reflected in the cash withdrawals data. Compared with 2019, both the number and value of cash withdrawals dropped in 2020 in most countries ( Graph 2 left-hand panel). Consumers made between 10 and 25 cash withdrawals on average in most CPMI jurisdictions in 2020. Generally, the total number of cash withdrawals declined by 23%, exceeding the 10% decline in value. This suggests that consumers took out cash less frequently, but when they did, they withdrew larger amounts (see also Graph 2 centre panel). The decline in the number of withdrawals might be due to fewer commuting and shopping trips 11 during the pandemic and a tendency to avoid the use of automated teller machines (ATMs) or to visit bank branches because of fear of being infected with the virus. 12 However, country differences in withdrawals are large, with five annual withdrawals in China and India and 50 in Saudi Arabia ( Graph 2 right-hand panel). In terms of value, cash withdrawals were the lowest in Sweden and the Netherlands (3% and 4% of GDP, respectively) and highest in China and Russia (39% and 26%, respectively).

The increase in the average withdrawal value globally is probably driven, in part, by the public's desire to hold cash for precautionary reasons, as the value of coins and banknotes in circulation outside banks surged in many jurisdictions in 2020. Even in jurisdictions where the value of cash in circulation had been declining prior to the pandemic, the outstanding cash value grew further or stabilised in 2020 ( Graph 3 left-hand panel). In particular, the demand for high-value denominations, which are typically held as a store of value, increased further, and more strongly than for other notes and coins ( Graph 3 centre and right-hand panel). Apparently, cash was increasingly held as a store of value rather than used for transactional purposes. This suggests that consumers accumulated cash as a precautionary measure, for example against potential disruptions to the availability of payment infrastructures or potential bank closures. Similar cash hoarding behaviour was observed during earlier crises or periods of uncertainty, such as the Y2K episode or the Great Financial Crisis. 13 Moreover, in some jurisdictions the surge in cash in circulation could be explained partly by the increase in aggregate disposable household income due to Covid-19-related income support measures and tax and loan repayment deferrals, and by falling interest rates, which further reduced the opportunity costs of holding cash in a physical form instead of in a bank account. 14

The role of cash post-pandemic

How long these changes in cash usage will persist after the pandemic is unclear. As a means of payment, cash lost ground to digital and contactless methods of payment in 2020, while the demand for cash as a store of value rose precipitously. An ECB survey of all euro area countries showed that 87% of the respondents who had made fewer payments in cash during the pandemic would continue to do so when the coronavirus crisis is over. 15 Whether the pandemic will have a similar prolonged effect on cash hoarding remains to be seen. Earlier research shows that the growth in cash holdings has slowed after a crisis or period of uncertainty had passed. 16

Although it changed the public's payment behaviour, the pandemic does not appear to have affected the public's perception of cash being a safe haven. Many central banks are exploring the potential of and need for a digital form of cash, a retail central bank digital currency (retail CBDC) that would provide consumers with the same protection as cash does today, while allowing them to make payments without carrying physical banknotes and coins. A 2020 BIS survey among more than 60 central banks (Boar and Wehrli (2021)) showed that the pandemic added to the motivations of central banks to develop retail CBDCs, especially with the aim of giving access to central bank money during times of emergency and of complementing cash and in-person payment methods when social distancing is required. Since then, retail CBDCs have been launched in the Bahamas, the Eastern Caribbean and Nigeria, and retail CBDC pilots are under way in 14 other jurisdictions. 17 Whether a retail CBDC, if issued, will change the use of cash in its physical form, either as a means of payment or as a store of value, will depend on central bank decisions as to the CBDC's design and the perceived value for households and businesses. These decisions and the degree and speed of adoption may differ among jurisdictions depending on their current payment infrastructures and instruments.

This commentary was written by Anneke Kosse and Robert Szemere. We are grateful to Ilaria Mattei and Ismail Mustafi for their excellent research assistance and we would like to thank Bilyana Bogdanova, Jenny Hancock, Stijn Claessens, Tara Rice and Takeshi Shirakami for their valuable comments.

Auer, R, G Cornelli and J Frost (2020a): " Covid-19, cash, and the future of payments ", BIS Bulletin , no 3, April.

--- (2021): " Rise of the central bank digital currencies: drivers, approaches and technologies ", updated data set, October.

Auer, R, J Frost, T Lammer, T Rice and A Wadsworth (2020b): "Inclusive payments for the post-pandemic world", SUERF Policy Note , no 193, September.

Akana, T (2021): "Changing US consumer payment habits during the COVID-19 crisis", Journal of Payments Strategy & Systems , vol 15, no 3, pp 234–43.

Alfonso, V, C Boar, J Frost, L Gambacorta and J Liu (2021): " E-commerce in the pandemic and beyond ", BIS Bulletin , no 36, 12 January.

Boar, C and A Wehrli (2021): " Ready, steady, go? – Results of the third BIS survey on central bank digital currency ", BIS Papers , no 114, January.

ECB (2020): " Study on the payment attitudes of consumers in the euro area (SPACE) ", December.

Chen, H, M Stratheam and M Voia (2021): "Consumer cash withdrawal behaviour: branch networks and online financial innovation", Bank of Canada, Staff Working Papers , no 28, June.

Guttmann, R, C Pavlik, B Ung and G Wang (2021): " Cash demand during Covid-19 ", RBA Bulletin , March.

IMF (2021): " Policy response to Covid-19 Policy Tracker ", last updated on 2 July.

Judson, R (2017): "The death of cash? Not so fast: demand for U.S. currency at home and abroad, 1990–2016", Conference Paper for International Cash Conference 2017 – War on Cash: Is there a Future for Cash?, April.

NFCW (2021): " Table: Contactless payment transaction limit increases around the world ", last updated on 27 August.

Rösl, G and F Seitz (2021): " Cash and crises: No surprises by the virus ", IMFS Working Paper Series , no150.

Visa (2021): " The Visa Back to business study 2021 Outlook ".

1     This commentary is based on the CPMI Red Book data published for 27 jurisdictions for the period 2012–20. Advanced economies (AEs) refer to Australia, Belgium, Canada, the euro area, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. Emerging market and developing countries (EMDEs) refer to Argentina, Brazil, China, Hong Kong SAR, India, Indonesia, Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa and Turkey. In the case of missing observations, data are estimated using the average growth rate of all other countries.

2    Covid-19 was first identified in December 2019 and declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 11 March 2020.

3    Non-cash payments refer to payments made using a payment instrument other than cash, such as payment cards, credit transfers, direct debits and cheques. With the exception of payments made using a cheque or paper-based credit transfer, all non-cash payments are digital payments.

4    See, for example, ECB (2020).

5    See Alfonso et al (2021).

6    For example, in the United States, person-to-person and mobile payments increased by 6% and 8%, respectively, during 2020 and the first months of 2021 (Akana (2021)).

7    IMF (2021).

8    Data on contactless card payments have been collected since 2012 but for most countries in the sample, data are available only from 2014.

9     According to ECB (2020), on average, 38% of respondents in the euro area avoided cash for fear of being infected with Covid-19 using banknotes and coins.

10    See NFCW (2021).

11    Chen et al (2021) demonstrate how some consumers try to minimise the time costs of withdrawing cash by making cash withdrawals opportunistically, eg on their commute to work.

12    See, for example, Auer et al (2020a) and (2020b).

13    See, for example, Judson (2017) and Rösl and Seitz (2021).

14    Guttmann et al (2021).

15    See ECB (2020). Similarly, a recent survey conducted by Visa showed that 65% of respondents planned to use contactless card payments as much or even more than before they were vaccinated, while 16% expected to revert to their previous payment habits (Visa (2021)).

16    See, for example, Judson (2017) and Rösl and Seitz (2021).

17    See Auer et al (2021).

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