Sci-Hub has created a new AI chatbot. Is it any good? (cen.acs.org)

Sci-Hub, the controversial site known for illegally hosting millions of scientific papers, has introduced an AI chatbot named Sci-Bot, designed to mine its extensive database and answer user queries based on retrieved papers. Despite ongoing legal challenges that have forced Sci-Hub to frequently change domains, the website remains relevant due to the continued prevalence of paywalled research in academia. The alpha version of Sci-Bot currently handles single questions without conversation threading but has already been trialed by several scientists, who found it capable yet limited in accessing more recent studies due to tightened security from publishers. The significance of Sci-Bot lies in its ability to provide access to a broader array of scientific publications, circumventing paywalls and thus expanding available resources for researchers. While initial evaluations highlight that the chatbot largely avoids "hallucinations" common in large language models, it still lacks coverage of the latest research and doesn't delve deeply into literature. Users noted the tool's potential and user-friendliness, yet they call for enhanced features, including a history of queries and more comprehensive engagement with scientific methods. As the academic landscape evolves towards more open access, the emergence of Sci-Bot raises questions about copyright and the ethical implications of using pirated content in AI development.