What Is Elicit AI: Definition and How to Use It

Finding scientific references is not always easy. Researchers, students, and professionals often have to browse dozens or even hundreds of journals just to find a few studies that are truly relevant. 

This is where Elicit AI offers a different approach by leveraging artificial intelligence to assist with the search, screening, analysis, and synthesis of scientific literature.

Rather than simply being a chatbot that answers questions, Elicit is designed as an Elicit AI research assistant focused on evidence-based research. 

The platform can search for academic works based on research questions, extract information from papers, create reports with citations, and assist with systematic literature reviews. 

Elicit currently provides searches across more than 138 million academic papers and more than 545,000 clinical trials.

Key Takeaways

• Elicit AI is an AI-powered research assistant that helps with searching and analyzing scientific literature in a more structured way.
• The platform can be used for semantic search, research reports, paper screening, data extraction, and systematic literature reviews.
• How to use Elicit AI starts with entering a research question, reviewing the papers found, and then using analysis features according to your needs.

What Is Elicit AI?

What is Elicit AI? Elicit is an artificial intelligence platform developed to assist with scientific research, particularly in finding and synthesizing evidence from various academic publications.

Unlike ordinary search engines, Elicit uses semantic search. This means users can enter research questions in natural language without having to know all the exact academic keywords. The system then searches for papers that have a semantic relationship with the question.

Elicit also goes beyond searching. Users can continue the search results into data extraction, table creation, report preparation, or systematic reviews. 

Each claim generated in a report can be linked to the supporting source section, making the verification process easier.

With these functions, Elicit AI research assistant is better understood as a tool for accelerating research work, rather than as a replacement for researchers.

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Useful Elicit AI Features for Research

One of Elicit's main capabilities is searching for papers based on research questions. Users do not have to start with highly specific technical terms because semantic search helps find publications based on the context and meaning of the question.

Once papers have been collected, Elicit can help with screening and data extraction. Information from multiple studies can be collected into tables with customized columns, such as research methods, population, intervention, outcomes, or specific variables.

The Research Reports feature can then be used to generate structured literature reviews. 

According to Elicit, these reports follow a process inspired by systematic reviews and include citations at the sentence level so readers can trace the basis of a claim.

For research that continues over a long period, there is also a Library for storing and organizing sources. Elicit also provides Alerts that can help monitor new publications relevant to the research topic.

How to Use Elicit AI for Beginners

How to use Elicit AI is relatively easy when you start with a clear research question. Here is a workflow you can follow.

1. Define the research question

Start with the question you want to answer rather than simply entering a single keyword. For example, instead of searching for “AI education,” a question such as “How does generative AI affect learning outcomes in higher education?” provides clearer context.

This approach aligns with how Elicit works, which is oriented around research questions.

2. Enter the question into Elicit

Open Elicit and enter your research question in the search feature. The system will display papers considered relevant based on semantic relationships, along with information that helps users determine which sources need further reading.

At this stage, do not immediately assume that all results are final sources. Check the title, abstract, publication year, methodology, and relevance to the research question.

3. Select and analyze relevant papers

After obtaining a collection of papers, use the analysis features to compare studies. Elicit can help extract specific information into tables so users do not have to read every paper from beginning to end just to find one particular type of data.

For more complex research, these papers can be moved into a systematic review workflow or Research Reports.

4. Create a research report

If you need a comprehensive overview, use the Research Reports feature. Enter the question and define the scope of the research you want to analyze.

Elicit can then perform the search, screening, and synthesis process to produce a source-based report. Users should still review the underlying papers and citations, especially if the report is used for academic or professional decisions.

5. Save sources for future research

Relevant papers can be saved in the Library so they can be found more easily later. Elicit also supports importing references from reference managers such as Zotero, EndNote, and Mendeley.

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Elicit AI vs ChatGPT, Which Is More Suitable?

Elicit and general AI chatbots serve different purposes. ChatGPT can be used for brainstorming, explaining concepts, creating writing outlines, or assisting with various everyday tasks. Meanwhile, Elicit is built with a focus on literature research and evidence synthesis.

The most important difference lies in the workflow. Elicit provides a more structured process for finding papers, screening them, extracting data, and creating syntheses. 

General-purpose chatbots are more flexible, but users typically have to design their own process for searching and verifying sources.

Therefore, Elicit is more suitable when the main goal is to understand what is already known from scientific research, while general-purpose chatbots can serve as complementary tools for processing or explaining that information.

Read Also: Claude vs ChatGPT vs Gemini: Pros, Cons, and How to Use Claude AI

Is Elicit AI Free?

Elicit provides a free Basic plan with unlimited searches across more than 138 million papers, but the use of Research Agent and Research Reports on this plan is subject to certain limits. 

Paid plans provide greater capacity and additional features for more intensive research.

Therefore, users do not necessarily need to pay to try Elicit. However, large-scale systematic reviews, API usage, and more intensive research workflows may require a paid plan. Elicit's API, for example, is available starting with the Pro plan or higher.

Advantages and Limitations of Elicit AI

Elicit's main advantage lies in its specialization. The platform combines scientific search with source analysis and organization in a single workflow. This can reduce the time required for repetitive tasks such as screening and data extraction.

However, Elicit does not mean that the research process becomes fully automated. AI-generated results still need to be checked against the original papers. Research relevance, methodological quality, the context of findings, and statistical interpretation still require human judgment.

For serious academic research, the safest approach is to use Elicit as a research assistant and then verify the primary sources before incorporating findings into a thesis, dissertation, journal article, report, or professional decision.

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Conclusion

Elicit AI is an artificial intelligence-powered research assistant designed to accelerate the search, analysis, and synthesis of scientific literature.

How to use Elicit AI can begin with a clear research question, followed by paper searches, source screening, data extraction, and report creation. 

Although AI can save significant time, researchers still need to check the original sources and assess the quality of evidence before drawing conclusions.

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FAQ

Can Elicit AI be used for free?

Yes. Elicit has a free Basic plan with access to paper searches and several research features, but the use of certain features such as Research Agent and Research Reports is limited according to the plan.

Can Elicit AI replace researchers?

No. Elicit is designed as an assistant to accelerate the research process. Researchers remain responsible for checking sources, assessing methodological quality, and determining whether evidence is valid for use.

What is the difference between Elicit AI and Google Scholar?

Google Scholar primarily functions as an academic literature search engine, while Elicit combines search with analysis, data extraction, paper screening, and evidence synthesis in a more structured research workflow.

Is Elicit AI suitable for systematic literature reviews?

Yes. Elicit provides a dedicated workflow for systematic literature reviews that includes protocol development, source collection, screening, data extraction, and evidence synthesis.

Where can I try Elicit AI?

Elicit can be tried through its official website. The platform provides a free usage option, allowing users to evaluate its search features and research workflow before choosing a higher-tier plan.