Artificial intelligence (AI) tools are increasingly influencing how researchers read, write, communicate and share knowledge. Used thoughtfully, these tools can support academic communication, improve language clarity and help researchers work more efficiently.
However, AI tools also have limitations. They can generate inaccurate information, introduce errors, obscure authorship and encourage over-reliance.
This guide explores practical ways to use AI in academic communication while maintaining academic integrity, critical thinking and your own scholarly voice.
First things first: what can you use AI for?
Reading and understanding research
Explaining complex concepts and terminology.
Summarising research papers (with verification against the original).
Comparing theoretical perspectives.
Generating questions to guide critical reading.
Identifying potential gaps in understanding.
Academic writing
Improving grammatical accuracy and sentence clarity.
Identifying awkward or unnecessarily complicated expressions.
Improving paragraph coherence and transitions.
Exploring alternative ways to express an idea.
Receiving feedback on the organisation of a text.
Academic presentations
Structuring presentations.
Simplifying complex explanations for different audiences.
Improving slide titles and key messages.
Practising responses to possible questions.
Getting feedback on presentation scripts.
Professional and research communication
Drafting and refining professional emails.
Adapting tone for different audiences.
Preparing conference abstracts.
Writing research summaries for non-specialists.
Improving responses to reviewers.