AI as a Research Assistant: Lecture on the Opportunities and Limitations of Generative Models

On October 28, 2025, the International Laboratory for Digital Transformation in Public Administration at HSE University hosted a seminar by Aysylu Ataeva, PhD in Economics, Associate Professor, titled “AI as a Research Assistant: Generative Models and Information Search.”

The seminar was held for HSE students and other participants as part of the initiative to promote responsible and informed use of artificial intelligence tools in research and education.

The speaker presented a systematic roadmap of the research cycle, demonstrating how AI can be integrated at every stage — from choosing a topic and searching for literature to editing text and formatting references.

During the seminar, participants were introduced to a range of modern tools for researchers, including Elicit, ResearchRabbit, OpenAlex, Consensus, ScienceOS, Perplexity, and ChatPDF. Examples of proper AI-assisted practices were discussed, such as formulating hypotheses, structuring data, and preparing methodological sections. Special attention was given to the risks of AI “hallucinations” and methods for identifying them during information search and interpretation.

As a result of the seminar, participants gained a clear understanding of where and how AI can be effectively applied at different stages of the research process. They also learned to use automation tools for data analysis and text editing, and to critically evaluate AI-generated results, applying them responsibly in their academic work.