5. Using AI to find information
- How searching with AI works
- Benefits and limitations of searching with AI
- Filter bubbles and personalisation
- Privacy and AI tools
AI is transforming how we search for and interact with information online. AI tools such as ChatGPT and Copilot function differently to traditional keyword-based search engines by understanding natural language and context. Beyond being used to find information, they can also be used to create, summarise, and give suggestions on surrounding topics to explore.
To better understand how to responsibly use AI in your studies at UQ, visit the AI Student Hub.
Some examples of AI-powered search tools:
- Perplexity – An AI search engine that provides concise, cited answers to questions.
- Microsoft Copilot – UQ’s enterprise AI tool, available to UQ staff and students. Visit our guide for more information on accessing and using Copilot.
- Google Gemini – Offers AI-powered responses and summaries within Google Search.
There are also AI tools designed specifically for discovering academic literature. See our AI tools for literature searching page for more information.
How searching with AI works
- Contextual understanding – AI will try to interpret the intent behind your question, even if it’s vague or conversational.
- Summarisation – AI can summarise long articles, documents, or web pages.
- Citation and source linking – Some tools include links to sources for transparency.
- Conversational follow-up – You can ask follow-up questions to refine or expand your search.
Benefits and limitations of searching with AI
- Saves time by summarising or synthesising information.
- Helps explore unfamiliar topics quickly.
- Can assist with writing, brainstorming, and research planning.
- May generate inaccurate or outdated information.
- Not all tools provide source citations.
- Can reflect biases in training data or algorithms.
- May not access real-time or subscription-based content.
Filter bubbles and personalisation
Just like traditional search engines, AI tools can create filter bubbles where results are tailored based on your previous interactions. This can limit exposure to diverse perspectives.
To reduce bias:
- use multiple tools to cross-check information
- ask AI to show alternative viewpoints
- be aware of how your prompts shape the responses.
Privacy and AI tools
- DuckDuckGo AI Chat – Offers anonymous access to AI models.
- You.com – Lets you control how much data is stored.
- Brave Leo – Integrates into Brave browser, hosted through Brave’s privacy-preserving environment.
Always check the privacy policy of the tool you’re using and avoid sharing sensitive personal information.