Semantic Scholar

Semantic Scholar, from Allen Institute for AI. Free academic search with one-line paper summaries and an AI-assisted reader.

What it does well

• Skimming search results quickly with TLDR summaries
• Following citations and influential references from a paper
• Reading with Semantic Reader, which explains citations and terms inline
• Research feeds that recommend new papers from ones you save

What it does poorly

• Chat-style questions
• Humanities and books, where coverage is thinner

What makes it different

A free, non-profit search engine for over 200 million papers. Its AI features help you skim and read, not write.

Quick start

1. Search your topic and read the TLDRs to shortlist papers.
2. Open a paper and check “Highly influential citations”.
3. Open an arXiv paper in Semantic Reader and hover over a citation.
4. Save papers to a library to start a research feed.

Strengths and limits

• Strength: Free, with no paywall on features
• Strength: Fast, reliable search
• Strength: Good citation tools
• Limit: TLDRs are one sentence, not analysis
• Limit: Reader works on a subset of papers

Privacy

Low risk. An account is only needed for libraries and feeds.

Academic integrity

No concerns beyond normal citation practice.