KU Libraries launch Scite.ai access for KU Researchers

KU Libraries is now offering full access to Scite.ai, a powerful AI-enhanced research tool that helps users dig deeper into scholarly literature by showing how research is cited – not just how often – and expands access to paywalled content. 

Unlike traditional citation databases, Scite.ai highlights whether a paper has been supported, contrasted, or simply mentioned by other scholars, giving researchers valuable context. With coverage of over 187 million publications and 1.3 billion citation statements, it’s a tool designed to help researchers quickly find scholarly literature across disciplines, especially in STEM and the social sciences. 

Scite also includes “Scite Assistant,” an AI research assistance tool that can answer questions using real citation data from peer-reviewed literature. With user-tailored features, it provides summaries of relevant research including the search strategies and references used. 

In addition to its benefits as a research tool, Scite is owned by the same company that owns Article Galaxy Scholar (AGS), giving researchers using the tool access to paywalled content through existing relationships with publishers.  

“It’s a pretty decent research assistant, but it has a two-fold benefit in that it’s helping to broaden our collections,” said Gwen Geiger Wolfe, Science and Engineering Librarian at KU. “Researchers can make requests for items not included in our regular agreements through Interlibrary Loan (ILL), or through AGS. It's beneficial as a research tool, but also in access to content.” 

The release follows a successful trial by AI-focused groups within KU Libraries and KU’s Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE). KU Libraries has been rolling out Scite.ai campuswide. Students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to explore its features and share feedback to help inform future subscription decisions. 

Librarians spent the summer training on the platform and are passing along knowledge to student users through Fridays on Fourth and other standalone workshops. Scite is available to all One KU users – KU Lawrence, KU Medical Center, KU Edwards, and KU Wichita campuses.