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Getting Started with AI for Research

· 2 min read
AI for Humanities
DAIHUM Project

A practical guide to setting up AI tools for humanities research.

Why AI for Humanities?​

As a humanities scholar, you're trained to work with texts, interpret sources, and construct arguments. AI tools can help you do this work more efficiently—not by replacing your expertise, but by handling tedious tasks so you can focus on what matters.

Choosing Your First Tool​

For most humanities researchers, I recommend starting with Claude (claude.ai). Here's why:

  1. Long documents — Claude handles longer texts than most alternatives
  2. Nuanced writing — Better at preserving voice and style
  3. Honest about limits — Less likely to make up information confidently

Other good options include ChatGPT (GPT-4) and Google's Gemini.

Your First Task: Summarizing a Source​

Let's try something simple. Find a PDF of an article you've been meaning to read.

  1. Go to claude.ai
  2. Upload the PDF
  3. Ask: "Summarize this article's main argument in 3 paragraphs"

That's it. You've just used AI for research.

What's Next?​

  • Understanding LLMs — Learn how these tools actually work
  • Browse the AI Dictionary — Get familiar with the terminology
  • Try more complex tasks — Ask Claude to help outline a paper or find patterns in your notes

Important Caveats​

AI tools are useful, but they have limits:

  • Always verify — AI can confidently state incorrect information
  • Cite properly — AI-generated text is not a citable source
  • Maintain your voice — Use AI to assist, not to replace your thinking

This guide is part of the AI for Humanities project.