My Experience with JSTOR’s New AI Research Tool: A Cambridge Student’s Review
As an international relations student at Cambridge, I practically live in JSTOR’s digital archives! When I received the beta invitation for their new AI research tool last term, I’ll admit I was rather sceptical. After all, between ChatGPT’s occasional flights of fancy and the general wariness toward AI in academia, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. However, after using it extensively for my essay research on the Peace of Westphalia, I’m genuinely impressed by how thoughtfully JSTOR has implemented this technology.
According to JSTOR’s data, the majority of humanities articles lack proper abstracts – something I’ve found frustrating countless times during late-night research sessions. But this new tool? It’s rather brilliant at solving that particular headache, along with several others I didn’t even realise needed solving!
First Impressions and Setup
Getting started was remarkably straightforward:
- Received the pop-up invitation whilst logged into my university-authenticated JSTOR account
- Setup took less than a minute
- Clean, intuitive interface that integrates seamlessly with the regular JSTOR experience
- No additional software or plugins required
The tool appeared right when I needed it, sitting quietly in the corner of my browser like a well-trained research assistant. Rather civilised, I must say!
The Game-Changing Features I’ve Found Most Useful
Smart Summarisation (My Personal Favourite!)
I cannot tell you how many hours this feature has saved me! When you’re sifting through dozens of Victorian-era social reform documents, having an intelligent summary of each one is absolutely brilliant. The tool doesn’t just regurgitate the first paragraph – it actually provides a proper overview of the document’s key points.
What I particularly appreciate is how it:
- Captures the author’s intent without making assumptions
- Highlights methodology and primary sources used
- Maintains academic rigour in its summaries
- Saves me from skimming 30-page articles just to determine relevance
Contextual Search (Quite Clever, Actually)
This feature has been particularly helpful when I’m exploring tangential topics. For instance, when researching the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834, the tool helped me discover relevant discussions about workhouse conditions that I might have otherwise missed. It’s like having a knowledgeable tutor pointing out connections you hadn’t considered.
Topic Discovery and Navigation
Rather useful for:
- Finding related primary sources
- Identifying gaps in my research
- Discovering new perspectives on my topic
- Building more comprehensive bibliographies
I’ve found this especially helpful when preparing for supervisions – it ensures I haven’t missed any major scholarly perspectives on my topic.
The Academic Integrity Bit (Very Important!)
What’s truly impressed me about JSTOR’s approach is their commitment to academic integrity. Unlike certain AI tools (looking at you, ChatGPT), this one:
- Only uses information from the specific document you’re viewing
- Provides proper citations and page numbers
- Shows you exactly where in the text it found the information
- Doesn’t make things up or blend sources
This means I can confidently cite sources in my essays without worrying about AI hallucinations or misattributions. My supervisors would be pleased!
Some Brilliant Use Cases
I’ve found the tool particularly helpful for:
- Literature Reviews: Rapidly evaluating sources for relevance to my research questions
- Primary Source Analysis: Understanding Victorian-era language and context more quickly
- Dissertation Research: Making connections between different scholarly perspectives
- Supervision Preparation: Ensuring comprehensive coverage of topic areas
Room for Improvement (Being Honest)
While the tool is brilliant overall, there are a few areas where I think it could be even better:
- Sometimes takes a moment to load on larger documents
- Occasionally struggles with very old texts (though so do I!)
- Could benefit from more advanced filtering options
- Would love to see integration with reference management software!
Tips for Fellow Students
If you’re lucky enough to get beta access, here’s what I’ve learned:
- Use the summarisation feature first to quickly evaluate sources
- Take advantage of the related content suggestions – they’re surprisingly good
- Double-check any direct quotes (good academic practice anyway)
- Use the tool to generate research questions you might not have considered
Final Thoughts
After a term of using JSTOR’s AI research tool, I’m thoroughly impressed. It’s streamlined my research process without compromising academic integrity – quite a feat! While it won’t write your essays for you (thank goodness), it’s an invaluable aid for serious academic research.
Is it perfect? Not quite. But it’s genuinely helpful and shows tremendous promise. For anyone conducting academic research – whether you’re an undergraduate like me or a seasoned academic – I’d highly recommend signing up for the beta if you get the chance. It’s rather like having a very well-read research assistant at your beck and call!
The tool has already transformed how I approach my research, and I’m quite excited to see how JSTOR continues to develop it. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a dissertation chapter calling my name!
Have you had the chance to try JSTOR’s AI tool? I’d love to hear about your experience in the comments below!
📚 Further Reading
For those interested in exploring more of my thoughts, consider:
- “Superintelligence” – Nick Bostrom – it’s one of my all-time favourite books about AI
- 7 Essential Books on AI – by the pioneers at the forefront of AI
- Ethical Implications of AI in Warfare and Defence – very pertinent and interesting read
Avi is an International Relations scholar with expertise in science, technology and global policy. Member of the University of Cambridge, Avi’s knowledge spans key areas such as AI policy, international law, and the intersection of technology with global affairs. He has contributed to several conferences and research projects.
Avi is passionate about exploring new cultures and technological advancements, sharing his insights through detailed articles, reviews, and research. His content helps readers stay informed, make smarter decisions, and find inspiration for their own journeys.
