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AI Tools in Library Databases

A description of the Generative AI tools available in the library's databases, and their capabilities.

AI Tools from EBSCO

Natural Language

The "Natural language" feature in EBSCO databases (there are more than 80 of them—see full list here) is an optional AI search assistant.

The "Natural Language" tool interprets a conversational or natural language query, and translates it behind the scenes into effective keywords with Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT).

This can be useful for complex queries, and when determining appropriate keywords is difficult.

Advanced Search Screen:

  • Enable the natural language option on the Advanced Search screen by selecting the "Search options" tab below the search boxes, and then selecting "Natural language."

advanced search screen


Basic Search Screen:

Select the "Natural language" toggle located beneath the search box on the right side.

basic search screen


Results Screen:

Select the "Natural language" toggle located beneath the search box on the left side.

results screen


More information about Natural Language Search.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Transparency Fact Sheet — Natural Language Search


 

AI Insights

AI Insights is is a document summary tool that highlights 2 to 5 key points for each document.

This can be useful to quickly review the relevance of search results.

Tip: AI Insights does not display if the full text is not available within the database, or if the full text is too short. Also, not every EBSCO database has this feature available—see a full list here.

  • Click the "Generate AI Insights" button located at the bottom of each search result (when available).

results screen with ai-insights button


After the key points are generated by the AI Insights tool, they will be displayed below the the AI Insights button.

ai-insights result display


More information on AI Insights.