London, U.K. – September 4, 2024 – Clarivate Plc (NYSE: CLVT), a global leader in transformative intelligence, announced today the launch of the Web of Science™ Research Assistant, an innovative, generative AI-powered tool designed to help researchers streamline their workflows, tackle complex research tasks, and uncover critical insights faster. Leveraging over 120 years of trusted publication and citation data from the Web of Science Core Collection™, the tool offers an enhanced research experience by combining a user-friendly chat interface with the power of the Web of Science knowledge graph.
The Web of Science Research Assistant marks a significant milestone in how researchers interact with data, enabling them to find key papers more efficiently and visualize connections between research concepts that might otherwise be overlooked.
Transforming Research with AI
Emmanuel Thiveaud, Senior Vice President, Research and Analytics, Academia & Government at Clarivate, highlighted the transformational potential of the new tool:
“The Web of Science Research Assistant goes beyond content discovery to enable a deeper, richer research experience. It enhances decision-making, supports skill-building, and provides in-depth insights into the dynamics of research fields.”
Thiveaud further emphasized that Clarivate’s approach to this innovation is built on the foundation of high-quality, reliable data. By partnering with the academic and research community, Clarivate is ensuring that the tool delivers significant value in research discovery and analytics.
“By partnering with the community and leveraging high-quality, reliable data and expertise, Clarivate is responsibly implementing cutting-edge technology in the Web of Science to improve research discovery and analytics that will transform our world.”
Collaborative Development and Academic Support
The development of the Web of Science Research Assistant has been a collaborative effort, involving librarians, researchers, and academic institutions across the globe. One of these development partners is the National Cheng Kung University Library, which has been actively involved in beta testing the tool since December 2023.
Li-Ling Ou, Assistant Administrator, Division of Knowledge Service at the National Cheng Kung University Library, shared the institution’s positive experience with the tool:
“We chose to engage with the Web of Science developer partner program due to the database’s reputation for credibility and reliability. The high-quality articles available through the Web of Science, coupled with the opportunity to experience a trial period, provided us with a positive and valuable experience. We are eager to promote the Web of Science Research Assistant further among researchers at our institution.”
Key Features of the Web of Science Research Assistant
The Web of Science Research Assistant introduces a range of innovative features designed to elevate the research process and make it more efficient. Some of the standout features include:
- Flexible Search for Documents
The tool allows users to conduct natural language searches in several languages. By considering over 120 years of research, it offers overviews that connect concepts and papers in specific fields, making it easier for researchers to identify trends and gaps in the literature. - Guided Prompts and Tasks
The tool suggests ways for researchers to enhance their research process, offering context-specific prompts to refine or expand the scope of their work. Guided tasks such as “Understand a topic,” “Literature review,” and “Find a journal” enable researchers to remain focused on the most critical aspects of their projects. - Unique Data Visualizations
With advanced visualizations like trend graphs, topic maps, and co-citation networks, users can explore various perspectives on a research topic. These visual tools guide researchers deeper into their work by presenting information from different angles, helping them understand complex research landscapes.
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A Community-Centric Approach
The Web of Science Research Assistant was developed with the close involvement of the research community. By collaborating with librarians and researchers worldwide, Clarivate ensured that the tool met high standards for quality, accuracy, and privacy. Beta testing, which began in late 2023, provided valuable feedback that has been incorporated into the tool’s design and functionality.
Moving forward, Clarivate is committed to continuing its collaboration with the research community to gather further feedback and make ongoing enhancements to the Web of Science Research Assistant.
Empowering the Future of Research
As research becomes increasingly complex and data-driven, tools like the Web of Science Research Assistant will play a critical role in shaping the future of academic inquiry. By offering a powerful, AI-driven solution, Clarivate is positioning itself at the forefront of technological innovation in the research field, making it easier for researchers to uncover new insights and drive progress across various domains of knowledge.
With its AI-powered capabilities, user-friendly interface, and trusted data foundation, the Web of Science Research Assistant is set to revolutionize how researchers navigate the ever-expanding body of academic literature.
