Imagine having a research assistant who will always be there to help you on your learning journey. Whether you want to elicit explanations for unfamiliar terms, obtain key takeaways from articles, or get answers to any questions that may pop up while reading — SciSpace's Copilot Chrome extension makes it all possible — all across the web.
We released the extension barely a month back. The response from the community has been fantastic and highly encouraging. It's an exciting new concept to have an AI assistant available whenever you read on the web, and we're constantly working to improve it. Thus, we want to share more about it — how it works, its capabilities, and its limitations.
Despite being in its early stages, Copilot for Chrome is an incredibly powerful tool that simplifies the technical language, helps you bridge knowledge gaps, comprehend math and tables in PDFs, and lets you learn in your preferred language.
What is SciSpace Copilot for Chrome?
SciSpace Copilot is an AI-powered research assistant that provides real-time explanations, answers, and summaries for scientific literature as you read.
With the release of this Chrome extension, you'll now be able to access the assistant no matter where you read online.
Just like Copilot on our website, the extension supports 75+ languages. You can interact with the AI assistant, get explanations and summaries, and learn in the language that you prefer.
The extension can be used on articles, research papers, blog posts, and even Medium, YouTube, and GitHub pages. However, it is most effective on pages that contain technical and scientific literature, such as those on major journal publishers like Nature and Elsevier or repositories like ArXiv and BiorXiv. Additionally, it works well on popular scientific news sources like New York Times and Scientific American.
How to get started?
Download the extension from Chrome Web Store, connect it to your SciSpace account, and pin it to your toolbar for easy access.
You can activate the extension by clicking on the SciSpace button in the toolbar.
And you’re ready to go!
SciSpace Copilot Chrome extension capabilities
Once activated, the browser extension analyzes the web page content and provides a clear and concise explanation of any text, math, or tables. You can also ask follow-up questions, and it will give you instant answers.
Please note the ‘Snip and Explain Math and Tables’ feature is available only in PDFs right now.
Let’s explore how the Copilot Chrome extension can be helpful in your reading and learning tasks.
1. Take Copilot wherever you are reading
With this extension, you can use Copilot on research papers and other scientific manuscripts available on top publisher websites like Elsevier, Springer, and others.\
No longer will you be limited to just the SciSpace repository or PDFs saved on your computer. Copilot works on articles across the webpage, regardless of whether it is behind a paywall or if access restrictions prevent you from downloading it.
2. Get explanations without opening a new tab
Whether you're trying to read a research paper on Nature or a technical article on Medium, follow coding instructions on GitHub, or watch tutorial videos on YouTube, it can be frustrating to keep switching between tabs to understand unfamiliar terms and concepts.
Fortunately, the Copilot extension eliminates this inconvenience to a great extent. Simply highlight the text and click the explain button, and you'll get a concise, clear explanation immediately. This will allow you to understand the context quickly and continue reading without losing focus.
Learning Math is something that can be incredibly challenging, but Copilot helps you learn how equations are relevant to the paper at hand. Click on the 'Explain Math and Tables' button, crop the equation, and Copilot will explain it, including what each notation means.
3. Ask questions to fill your knowledge gaps
While reading or learning online, it is natural to have questions pop up in your mind. With the extension installed, you can get in answers in real time. Simply type your questions in the chatbox, and Copilot will answer instantly. This creates a more interactive and engaging learning experience.
You can ask follow-up questions if you need further clarification on the answer. Since there is no limit to the number of questions you can ask, you can learn at your own pace and keep building your knowledge.
In case you're unsure what to ask, check the Copilot chat window for preset and brainstormed questions. The former refers to a general set of questions that can help you quickly understand the topic. In contrast, brainstormed questions change according to the page's context, allowing you to think critically about the content and gain a deeper understanding of the topic.
4. Streamline your literature reading process
Every day, there are thousands of papers and articles published. It can be difficult to determine which ones are worth reading. One way to quickly assess a content piece is by selecting a specific section, like the introduction or results, and clicking the 'Summarize' button. This will provide you with an instant summary, helping you decide if the rest of the piece is worth reading.
Alternatively, use preset or brainstormed questions to quickly understand the study's methodology, practical implications, and conclusions. This technique can save you time, help you grasp key takeaways faster, and allow you to read more papers in the same amount of time.
Final thoughts
The vision of our team at SciSpace is to create a world where scientific literature is easily accessible and understood, no matter the time or location. With the unveiling of Copilot and our innovative Chrome extension, we are proud to be leading a new era in scientific reading.
We're continually making improvements to the Chrome extension. Expect tons of new features soon, including note-taking capabilities. If there's a feature you'd like to see, don't hesitate to let us know!
Save time and deepen your understanding with the SciSpace Copilot Chrome extension. Try it out now and spread the word to your network. We value your feedback.
