Before utilising AI platforms, it is crucial to review IADT's Academic Integrity Policy to ensure ethical use of these tools in line with institutional standards. It is also important to confirm with your lecturer whether AI platforms are permitted for your coursework. When seeking high-quality academic information, prioritise IADT Library's print and online collections, as relying solely on AI tools can yield information sources of variable quality and reliability. See video, on the right Searching Library Collections Using Discovery.
Despite the limitations of AI, these platforms can offer the following valuable benefits for information seeking when used appropriately:
Brainstorming Ideas
AI tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity can be invaluable for generating research topic ideas, formulating and shaping potential research questions and for generating search terms prior to using academic databases. See a list of useful AI platforms in the tab above, or click here.
Breaking Down Complex Concepts
When faced with complex concepts or assignment tasks, ChatGPT and Perplexity can assist in simplifying and clarifying these ideas, making them more manageable and easier to understand.
Illustrating Your Work
Image generation tools such as DALL-E are excellent resources for visually presenting your research. These tools can help you create illustrations that enhance your work and make your presentations more engaging.
Creative Adaptations
Numerous AI tools are available to support creative endeavours. Whether you're looking to adapt existing content or generate new ideas, these tools can support as opposed to replace the creative process.
Summarising Articles
AI tools, such as ChatGPT and literature search platforms like ResearchRabbit, can effectively summarise academic articles, thereby enhancing your understanding and learning before engaging with the full text. However, it is crucial to recognise that reading a summary should not substitute for a comprehensive reading of the article. To ensure comprehensive access to high-quality academic articles, it is essential to prioritise IADT Library's print and online collections. This approach will provide a more thorough and reliable foundation for your academic research.
Discovering New Research
Literature search AI tools such as ResearchRabbit, Connected Papers and Elicit AI can aid in uncovering new research relevant to your field. They also allow you to visualise connections between researchers and various pieces of literature, enriching your understanding of the academic landscape. Remember to prioritise IADT Library collections to support the comprehensive retrieval of high-quality articles.
Effective use of AI Platforms for brainstorming include asking platforms such as Perplexity or ChatGPT for keywords to search IADT's academic databases. The following prompt was entered into Perplexity 'What keywords should be used when searching academic databases to retrieve articles on sustainability and the film industry'
Answer from Perplexity:
"sustainable filmmaking" OR "green filmmaking"
"film industry" AND sustainability
"movie production" AND "carbon footprint"
"television production" AND "environmental impact"
"entertainment industry" AND "eco-friendly practices"
"virtual production" AND "emissions reduction"
"post-production" AND "energy consumption"
"sustainable film festivals"
"sustainable film equipment"
"sustainable film materials"
Some additional tips:
Use quotation marks around multi-word phrases like "sustainable filmmaking" to search for the exact phrase
Use AND between keywords to narrow the search and find articles that contain all the terms
Use OR between similar keywords to broaden the search and find articles with either term
Experiment with different combinations of keywords to find the most relevant articles
Look for articles published in journals related to film/media studies, environmental studies, or business sustainability
Expand your search beyond just academic journals to include industry publications, reports, and news articles
By using a combination of these keywords and techniques, you should be able to find a good selection of scholarly articles and other resources on the topic of sustainability in the film and entertainment industry.