First of all, congratulations once again on your successful defence! And thank you for agreeing to share your views and thoughts on the topic.
What’s your overall feel about using AI tools in academic research? Helpful, risky, or maybe both? What should people watch out for?
I believe that AI tools can provide valuable support for carrying out academic research, particularly for planning, organizing ideas, guiding the research process and for providing feedback. Meaning that the AI tools should be used to support the process rather than replace independent thinking. It is still important to have a strong understanding of the topic, critically evaluate AI-generated information, and engage actively with the work yourself. Ultimately, artificial intelligence should complement human effort and judgment, not replace them.
Did you use AI support while writing your thesis? If yes, which tools exactly? At what stage and for what purpose did you use them?
Yes, I tested different AI tools for different purposes. I used:
ChatGPT
I mainly used it for planning the work and receiving feedback. I used it to discuss the overall structure of the thesis and the organization of individual chapters. Since the thesis was written in English (my native language is Estonian), I also used it for language-related support, such as grammar and punctuation checks.
I did not use ChatGPT to gather information for the thesis. However, I occasionally used it to explain and to help me understand complex sentences in scientific papers.
Scite
It helped me gather and consolidate information on some topics. Through it, I was also able to discover additional literature and information to include in the thesis.
Validia
I used it mainly as a verification tool when working with longer reports or studies as sources. It helped me ensure that I have interpreted and referenced the material appropriately.
QuillBot
At the end, I ran the thesis through a plagiarism check. I also tried the paraphraser and AI humanizer functions, but personally I didn’t like them, and it was faster to rephrase sentences myself than to rely on AI.
The AI tool market for academic and research work is already quite large and diverse. How did you choose which ones to use?
I didn’t do any specific research on which AI tools are the best to use. I mainly used tools that I was already familiar with or that had been recommended to me by my friends.
Did your university provide any guidelines or rules regarding AI use?
I know that TalTech, the university where I was doing the Master’s program, has general principles for using artificial intelligence. However, I did not familiarize myself with them in detail. But I was aware that AI should be acknowledged and referenced when it has been used.
Based on your experience, what would you recommend: how should AI tools be used wisely, and how should they not be used?
I think AI tools can be very useful for guiding the research and writing process. AI tools can be helpful to brainstorm ideas, discuss different approaches and receive feedback. Also it can reduce the need to ask supervisors unnecessary questions, which can speed up the thesis-writing process.
At the same time, I don’t think it is reasonable to use AI to write the thesis on behalf of the author. Even if AI-generated text may seem meaningful and well worded at first glance, it can include factual mistakes, inaccuracies, or superficial treatment of the topic. When you look deeper, it often becomes clear that AI-generated content may not be correct enough or meet the requirements of academic work. In addition, it is important that the thesis reflects the author’s own knowledge, analytical ability, and understanding of the topic being studied.
For this reason, I see AI tools primarily as support tools that facilitate learning, assist the writing process and provide feedback rather than substitute author’s own analysis and judgment.