Source: https://consensus.app/

Written by Mette Bechmann

 

Imagine being able to save time when reviewing essential literature for your research projects... A new AI-based tool, Consensus, can help you do just that by concisely summarizing peer-reviewed papers.

Traditional bibliographic databases like Scopus and Web of Science are essential for carrying out comprehensive literature reviews. They offer depth and breadth, allowing users to search by keywords, filter results, and access a wide range of scholarly content. However, they often require manual reviewing of huge volumes of papers to identify consensus and trends. 

Consensus AI simplifies this process by using artificial intelligence to scan peer-reviewed content and in turn summarize evidence-based answers. In this way, it complements traditional databases by offering speed and clarity in identifying different viewpoints. You can use it alongside keyword searches in Scopus or Web of Science to find additional resources or to identify consensus around complex topics. 

 

How Consensus AI works 
Unlike Scopus and Web of Science, Consensus AI delivers a concise summary from relevant peer-reviewed studies based on a query. For instance, you might ask: “Does remote work improve employee productivity?” Consensus will then scan available content and provide an overall summary, showing whether existing research supports the idea or if findings are mixed. This can help you identify consensus or gaps within in the literature. 


Pros  

  1. Time-saving: Consensus AI presents summarized findings, reducing manual searching. 
  1. Simplified insights: The AI presents research in accessible summaries, useful for preliminary reviews. 
  1. Supplementary tool: Can be used alongside traditional databases for additional resources. 
  1. Filter by highly ranked journals: Users can limit searches to high-quality, top-ranked journals. 

Cons  

  1. Limited database: the Consensus AI database is still under development  and may lack niche topics. 
  1. AI interpretation: Risks over-simplifying research findings. 
  1. Narrow focus: Lacks the comprehensive scope of databases like Scopus and Web of Science. 


While Scopus and Web of Science are critical for deep research, Consensus AI is a valuable tool for quickly identifying consensus, with the added benefit of filtering for top-tier journals. 

To get started with Consensus, go to their webpage.


CBS does not have an institutional license.  


Questions? Reach out to Mette Bechmann