AI-Powered Research: Opportunities and Challenges – Day 1

On February 4, over 200 researchers joined an insightful webinar led by Daniel Mertens (Schiller & Mertens) on the transformative role of AI in scientific research. The session, titled Everyday AI for Scientists, explored practical AI applications for researchers navigating the complexities of literature review, data analysis, collaboration, and manuscript writing.

Mertens began by addressing the “blank page” dilemma—how AI can support researchers at the very start of a project, from organizing ideas to structuring grant proposals. He then moved on to retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) and multi-expert prompting, highlighting how these AI techniques improve knowledge retrieval and decision-making.

A key topic was the use of local small language models (SLMs) for enhanced data protection, ensuring researchers can leverage AI without compromising sensitive data. The webinar also sparked discussions on AI-powered collaboration tools that streamline teamwork in research environments.

The session concluded with a forward-looking discussion: What’s next for AI in science? Mertens and the attendees explored emerging trends, emphasizing AI’s growing role in automation, discovery, and ethical research practices.