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How to Use ChatGPT as an AI Research Assistant for Article Brainstorming

Learn how to use ChatGPT to accelerate your initial article research, from asking broad conceptual questions to synthesizing information and verifying sources, turning hours of work into minutes.

From How I AI

How I AI: Farhad Manjoo's AI-Powered Writing Workflow for Research, Wordcraft, and Editing

with Claire Vo

How to Use ChatGPT as an AI Research Assistant for Article Brainstorming

Tools Used

ChatGPT

OpenAI conversational AI

Step-by-Step Guide

1

Start with a Broad Question

Instead of using simple keywords like in a traditional search engine, ask a broad, conceptual question to get a comprehensive overview of a topic. This helps the AI understand your intent and provide a synthesized summary.

Prompt:
tell me about like, all the commentary on Trump's tariffs and, especially any that say the tariffs are good.
2

Analyze the Initial Synthesis

Review the AI's summary. It will typically highlight the general consensus on the topic, identify key figures or organizations involved, and provide direct links to the source articles it used.

Pro Tip: This initial summary is a great way to quickly understand the main arguments and players in any debate.
3

Interrogate the Results

Treat the process like a conversation. Ask follow-up questions to dig deeper into specific areas that interest you or to uncover new angles. This allows you to narrow your focus based on the initial overview.

Prompt:
is there anyone, in the automotive industry who has commented on the tariffs or,
4

Verify the Sources

Crucially, click through the links provided by the AI to read the original source material. This step is essential for verifying the information, understanding the full context, and ensuring you are not relying on an AI hallucination.

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