13 Conclusion

#Leave a meaningful take-home message about bringing knowledge into the world. 

As we close this book on the evolving role of AI in research, remember this: just because we can use AI in nearly every step of the research process doesn’t mean we always should. These tools are powerful, but they are not neutral; they reflect the data they’re trained on, their creators’ biases, and their users’ intentions. As researchers, your job is not to blindly accept every suggestion AI offers but to think critically, question deeply, and make informed choices. Use AI as a collaborator—not a crutch. Take what is helpful and leave what isn’t, but always—always—be mindful of the ethical, academic, and personal safeguards that must remain in place. Let the image of the shoggoth remind you that powerful tools can be both brilliant and dangerous. Approach them with curiosity but also with caution.