Perplexity vs SciSpace for Scientific Research: Which is best to use?

Science Grad School Coach
31 Oct 202311:14

TLDRThis video compares Perplexity AI and SciSpace for scientific research purposes. Perplexity AI is a general chatbot with internet access, while SciSpace is designed specifically for scientific research papers, offering advanced features like paper analysis and summary generation. The comparison is based on their ability to answer a technical question about ion mobility spectrometry in steroid isomer analysis. The results show that both AIs provide valuable insights, but SciSpace offers a more research-oriented response with detailed citations and analysis, while Perplexity AI provides a broader overview with potential duplications. The video suggests using both AIs for a comprehensive understanding and always verifying AI-generated information with the original research articles.

Takeaways

  • 🔍 Perplexity AI and SciSpace are compared for their suitability in scientific research.
  • 📚 SciSpace is specifically designed for scientific research papers, offering discovery, information generation, and summarization.
  • 🤖 Perplexity is a general chatbot with internet connectivity, providing broader source findings but not specialized for scientific research.
  • 🎯 The focus is set to 'academic' in Perplexity for a more relevant comparison to SciSpace.
  • 💡 The question posed to both AIs concerns the analysis of steroid isomers by ion mobility spectrometry (IMS).
  • 📈 Perplexity provides a list of papers with brief insights but includes some duplication and lacks the most recent work.
  • 🔎 SciSpace offers a more structured response, combining information from different references into a cohesive summary.
  • 📊 Both AIs cover the use of IMS and liquid chromatography (LC) for steroid isomer analysis, but Perplexity includes more detail on recent findings.
  • ⚖️ The evaluation suggests using both AIs for a comprehensive overview, as they complement each other with their different strengths.
  • 🔍 It is emphasized that AI-generated summaries should be verified against the actual articles for accuracy.
  • 📚 A recommendation is made to download a research guide for further learning in the field.

Q & A

  • What is the main difference between Perplexity AI and SciSpace in terms of their intended use?

    -Perplexity AI is a more general chatbot that can find sources and information on the internet, while SciSpace is specifically designed for scientific research, including finding, generating, and summarizing information from research papers.

  • How does Perplexity AI handle the user's focus on academic content?

    -Perplexity AI allows users to set their focus to academic, which helps in getting results closer to academic standards and reduces the influence of non-academic sources like Wikipedia.

  • What is Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS) and how is it used in the analysis of steroid isomers?

    -Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS) is an analytical technique used to separate and analyze biomolecules like steroids. It helps in distinguishing isomers, which are molecules with the same mass but different structures, by analyzing their mobility in a gas phase.

  • What are some methods mentioned in the script that improve the resolution of isomer groups using IMS?

    -The script mentions targeted derivatization reactions and coupling IMS with liquid chromatography (LC) as methods to improve the resolution of challenging isomer groups.

  • How does SciSpace present the search results and citations?

    -SciSpace presents search results with a brief overview and includes citations within the text. It also provides a more structured format with tables and specific information on each paper, which is useful for scientific research.

  • What is the advantage of using both Perplexity AI and SciSpace for scientific research?

    -Using both AI tools can provide a more comprehensive understanding of a topic as they might highlight different aspects or sources of information. It can also help identify discrepancies or areas where the AI might be incorrect, encouraging further verification through actual research articles.

  • What is the significance of metal ion adduction in the analysis of steroid isomers?

    -Metal ion adduction is significant as it allows for the separation of steroid isomers in positive ion mode and contributes to the identification of analytes, which was mentioned in the script as an area where SciSpace could have provided more information.

  • How does the script address the issue of information duplication in the search results?

    -The script notes that there is duplication in the search results provided by one of the AI tools, indicating that it is important for users to be aware of such issues when relying on AI-generated summaries.

  • What is the role of liquid chromatography (LC) in the analysis of steroid isomers?

    -Liquid chromatography (LC) is coupled with IMS to enhance the resolution and provide more confident identification of steroid isomers. It is also used in conjunction with mass spectrometry (MS) for a more detailed analysis.

  • What is the relevance of checking AI-generated information against the original research articles?

    -It is crucial to verify AI-generated information with the original research articles to ensure accuracy and avoid relying solely on AI-generated summaries, which may contain errors or misinterpretations.

  • What additional advice does the script provide for those working on learning their field?

    -The script suggests downloading a 30-day research jump start guide to learn how to effectively read papers, develop ideas, and test them based on the literature, emphasizing the importance of direct engagement with research materials.

Outlines

00:00

🔬 Comparison of Perplexity AI and SCACE for Scientific Research

This video segment discusses a comparative analysis between Perplexity AI and SCACE, two platforms used for researching scientific papers. The presenter sets a focus on academic content to ensure a fair comparison and poses a specific scientific query about the analysis of steroid isomer by ion mobility spectrometry to both platforms. The response from Perplexity, which includes sourced information and identification of specific papers, is detailed. The presenter highlights the importance of accurate source citation and notes the occurrence of duplicated information in the results, reflecting on the strengths and limitations of using AI for scientific inquiries.

05:00

📚 Evaluating AI Tools in Scientific Literature Review

The second paragraph delves deeper into the comparative analysis, focusing on how SCACE and Perplexity AI summarize scientific findings differently. It examines the nuances of how each platform presents information, including citation practices and the inclusion of recent studies. The presenter appreciates SCACE's approach to integrating information in a way that resembles an experienced researcher's literature review. Despite some shortcomings, such as omitted details and incomplete citations, the presenter acknowledges that both tools provide complementary insights, useful for an initial understanding but emphasizes the necessity of consulting the original papers for detailed research.

10:04

🌐 Utilizing Multiple AI Tools for Comprehensive Research Overviews

In the final segment, the presenter advocates for using multiple AI tools to obtain a broad overview of research topics, highlighting the potential discrepancies and limitations of AI in interpreting scientific data. The presenter suggests that cross-verifying AI-generated summaries with actual research papers can uncover inconsistencies and gaps in AI understanding. Additionally, the segment promotes a guide designed to help new researchers efficiently navigate and learn from scientific literature, emphasizing the critical role of thorough review and verification beyond AI tools.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Perplexity AI

Perplexity AI is a general chatbot that is connected to the internet, allowing it to find sources and provide information on a wide range of topics. In the context of the video, it is compared with SciSpace for its suitability in scientific research. It is noted that while Perplexity AI is versatile, it is not specifically designed for scientific research, which is the focus of the comparison in the video script.

💡SciSpace

SciSpace is a tool specifically designed for scientific research, enabling users to find, generate information from, and summarize research papers. It is tailored for academic purposes and is being compared with Perplexity AI in the video to determine which is better suited for scientific research.

💡Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS)

Ion Mobility Spectrometry is an analytical technique used to separate and analyze ions based on their mobility in a gas phase. In the video, it is discussed as a method for analyzing steroid isomers, highlighting its importance in the field of scientific research, particularly in the analysis of biomolecules.

💡Steroids

Steroids are a class of biomolecules that include hormones and other biologically active compounds. In the context of the video, steroids are the subject of analysis using IMS, and the discussion revolves around the methods used to differentiate between various steroid isomers.

💡Isomers

Isomers are molecules with the same molecular formula but different structural or spatial arrangements. In the video, the focus is on how IMS can be used to analyze and differentiate steroid isomers, which have the same mass but different structures.

💡Liquid Chromatography (LC)

Liquid Chromatography is a method used to separate, identify, and quantify each component in a mixture. In the video, it is coupled with IMS to enhance the resolution and analysis of steroid isomers, demonstrating its role in scientific research and analysis.

💡Mass Spectrometry (MS)

Mass Spectrometry is an analytical technique used to identify and quantify substances by measuring the mass-to-charge ratio of ions. In the video, it is discussed as a method coupled with IMS and LC to provide more accurate identification of steroid isomers.

💡Derivatization

Derivatization is a chemical process that involves the modification of a substance to improve its detectability or stability, often used in analytical chemistry. In the context of the video, it is mentioned as a technique used in IMS to enhance the resolution of isomer groups.

💡Metal Ion Induction

Metal Ion Induction is a process where metal ions are used to enhance the separation of molecules, such as steroid isomers, in analytical techniques like IMS. In the video, it is highlighted as a method contributing to the separation of steroid glucoronide isomers.

💡Tandem Mass Spectrometry (MS/MS)

Tandem Mass Spectrometry, also known as MS/MS, is an analytical technique that involves two stages of mass spectrometry to provide more detailed information about the structure and composition of molecules. In the video, it is used in conjunction with IMS to analyze steroid isomers, emphasizing its role in enhancing the signal-to-noise ratio.

💡Research Articles

Research articles are scholarly writings that present original research results and are typically published in academic journals. In the video, the comparison between Perplexity AI and SciSpace is based on their ability to generate summaries and provide information from research articles, particularly in the field of scientific research.

Highlights

Perplexity AI and SciSpace are compared for their suitability in scientific research.

SciSpace is specifically designed for scientific research papers, offering information generation and summarization.

Perplexity AI is a general chatbot enhanced by internet connectivity and capable of finding sources.

The focus is set to academic for a more accurate comparison in Perplexity AI.

A question about ion Mobility spectrometry analysis of steroid isomers is posed to both AIs.

Perplexity AI provides a list of papers with citations, but includes some duplication.

SciSpace presents a more combined and research-article-like response.

Both AIs cover the analysis of steroids by IMS, but Perplexity AI includes more details like derivatization and metal adduction.

SciSpace's response is structured more like a research article with tables and specific paper information.

Perplexity AI's response is more conversational and blog-like.

Using both AIs is recommended for a comprehensive overview and to identify any discrepancies.

It is crucial to verify AI-generated information against the original articles.

The video provides a 30-day research jump start guide for those new to their field.

The presenter suggests that no single AI source should be solely relied upon for research.

The video concludes by encouraging the use of multiple AI sources for a well-rounded understanding.