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With so many text-based generative AI tools available, deciding which one to use for a particular task can be difficult. One important consideration is whether the tool is grounded in a source of facts. Having access to current, real-world data can help prevent an AI tool from hallucinating.
ChatGPT 3.5, the free version of ChatGPT, is not grounded: It relies on its training data to generate responses. As of April 2024, it was last updated in January 2022 and only includes information up to that point.
The following AI tools can use web search results in their responses:
These AI tools use scholarly sources of data:
Their coverage is more comprehensive than the tools below.
You can use these tools to find additional sources that may not have appeared through keyword searching. They use semantic search, which aims to give you relevant results by interpreting the meaning of your search (instead of just showing results that match the words you enter). They also include generative AI features, like responding to natural language prompts, summarizing, outlining, etc.
Note: While these tools may have free versions, most have usage limits without a subscription.
This page was adapted from Which AI Tool for Your Task? by University of Arizona Libraries, which is licensed under CC BY 4.0.