AI Features in Major Databases & Platforms

Students: Temple policy prohibits the use of generative AI tools in a class, unless the instructor explicitly grants permission. Temple’s Student Code of Conduct defines unauthorized use of generative AI as academic misconduct (see section C.1.B.5. of the Student Code of Conduct). Different instructors may have different rules related to the use of generative AI. Students should read their syllabi carefully to learn what is permitted in a class.

Temple University Libraries provides access to a wide variety of electronic resources to meet the needs of students, staff, and faculty. Many e-resources providers are integrating different types of AI-driven features into their platforms that offer new ways to search and evaluate information. This guide offers basic information and links out to documentation for AI features that are currently available in Temple's major databases and electronic resources platforms. Some of these features are still in Beta, and most are receiving regular updates. We will try our best to ensure this guide is accurate.

To see all databases currently available at Temple University, please use our Databases List or access these resources using Library Search. 

• Always changing: Many of these features are in active development or are beta releases, and design and functionality may change over time. 
• AI does not mean 'better': AI tools do not replace traditional search methods, metadata, or evaluation techniques. Instead, they are best used alongside of them as a new way of gaining research insights. 
• AI searches can fail: If an AI tool doesn't produce good results for your search, try the database's basic or advanced search. There may be resources available for your research topic that the AI tool was unable to find or excluded due to sensitive topics (such as hate and bias, sex, violence, and self-harm).
• AI is limited by content: AI tools operate over a limited body of content. If that body of content doesn't contain enough material related to a topic, an AI tool may not provide thorough information about that topic.
• AI summaries can be inaccurate: AI-generated summaries can help you determine whether a resource is relevant to your research, but they are not always correct. Be sure to read the full text of a resource before citing it or incorporating it into your research.
• Protect your personal info: Please do not enter personal information into generative AI-powered tools. Some providers may review the queries you enter in order to determine whether they provided accurate responses.