This AI Synthesizes 500 Papers So You Don't Have To (Elicit AI)

Elicit: A Deep Dive into the Academic AI Tool

Key Concepts:

• Elicit: An AI-powered research assistant designed for academics.
• Research Report: A feature generating structured reports based on research questions.
• Paper Chat: Functionality allowing users to interact with uploaded research papers.
• Systematic Review Workflow: A guided process for conducting systematic literature reviews.
• Corpus Control (Plus Feature): The ability to define the specific body of text Elicit searches.
• Workflows: Pre-defined processes for specific research tasks (e.g., research report, systematic review).
• Alerts (Pro Feature): Notifications for new publications matching specified research criteria.
• Zotero Integration: Connecting Elicit with a reference management software.
• Q1/Q2 Journals: Referring to journals ranked in the top 25% (Q1) or 50% (Q2) based on impact factor.

I. Core Functionality & Free Tier Capabilities

Elicit has significantly evolved as an academic AI tool. The free version allows users to create research reports, find papers, and chat with papers. While certain features are restricted (indicated by graying out in the interface), the core functionality remains powerful. The interface features a large input area for prompts.

The “Research Report” function allows users to ask a research question and generate a structured report. Elicit provides feedback on question clarity, suggesting more precise phrasing for better results. The tool evaluates question strength and offers alternative formulations. For example, a vague question like “OPV devices” is flagged as needing improvement, while “What is the efficiency of organic photovoltaic devices compared to traditional?” receives a “great question” assessment.

Report generation involves source selection (research papers or clinical trials) and choosing an output style: fast, balanced, or comprehensive. The process is transparent, displaying stages like source screening, data extraction, and report generation. Users can interact with the generated content and save reports as PDFs. A free report can analyze up to 50 papers.

II. Finding Papers & Paper Chat

Elicit’s origins lie in its paper discovery capabilities. Users can input a research question (e.g., “beards and smell”) and Elicit will refine it and return relevant papers. Results include a “too long; didn’t read” (TLDR) summary and the option to chat with the papers. Exporting results requires a paid subscription.

The “Paper Chat” feature allows users to upload their own papers (e.g., the speaker uploaded one of their own) and ask questions directly about the content. A simple example given is asking about the limitations of the paper.

III. Paid Subscription Tiers: Plus vs. Pro

Elicit offers two paid tiers: Plus ($X/month - amount not specified) and Pro ($49/month). Plus provides limited additional features, primarily download capabilities. Pro unlocks the full potential, including access to beta features and increased usage limits.

The speaker expresses concern about the Pro price point, noting it’s expensive and suggests institutions should cover the cost for researchers. Pro users receive 12 “workflows” per month, which are consumed with each use of advanced features.

IV. Systematic Review Workflow (Pro Feature)

The Pro tier’s systematic review workflow is a key benefit. It guides users through the process step-by-step, including:

1. Paper Sources: Selecting sources from Elicit’s search, a user’s library, or integrated tools like Zotero, RIS, PDF, or BibTeX.
2. Screening Definition: Defining inclusion/exclusion criteria for abstract screening. Elicit provides initial suggestions.
3. Extraction Definition: Defining data points to extract from included studies.
4. Extraction Results: The tool extracts data based on the defined criteria.
5. Research Report: Generating a final report summarizing the findings.

The speaker attempted to demonstrate the workflow but encountered a temporary glitch, highlighting potential usability issues.

V. Advanced Features & Beta Tools (Pro)

Beyond systematic reviews, Pro offers features like:

• Competitive Landscape Analysis: A new beta feature for analyzing the competitive landscape of a research area.
• Research Landscape Mapping: Identifying trends and gaps in a research field – considered a primary use case for the tool.
• Clinical Trial Access Analysis: Analyzing clinical trial data.
• General Research Agent: A conversational AI assistant for research tasks.
• Data Extraction: While not providing direct table/figure extraction, Pro allows for structured data extraction into tables with customizable columns (summary, main findings, methodology, etc.).

VI. Alerts & Library Functionality (Pro)

A particularly valuable Pro feature is the ability to create alerts. Users can define research questions, specify journal quality (e.g., Q1/Q2 journals based on impact factor), and set keywords to receive email notifications when new relevant publications are released. This automates literature monitoring, saving significant time.

Elicit also features a library where users can upload and store papers, making them accessible for use in various workflows.

VII. Overall Assessment & Actionable Insights

Elicit is a powerful suite of tools for academic research, offering significant benefits for literature review, data extraction, and systematic analysis. The free tier provides substantial value, while the Pro subscription unlocks advanced features like systematic review workflows and alerts.

The speaker encourages viewers to share their experiences with Elicit and to advocate for institutional funding to cover the Pro subscription cost. A related video demonstrating the systematic review process in detail is also recommended.

Notable Quote:

“I think it is a really powerful way to actually lead the blind through a systematic review. If you've not done it before and you don't have your own process, now you can use elicit if you pay the big bucks.” – The speaker, commenting on the systematic review workflow.