The academic landscape is evolving rapidly and artificial intelligence (AI) is at the forefront of this transformation. From enhancing search capabilities to streamlining cataloging processes and improving metadata management, AI is reshaping how libraries interact with and organize information. At Clarivate™, we are committed to harnessing the power of Academic AI to drive research excellence, boost library productivity and foster better learning outcomes.
In this blog, we explore how we are empowering libraries to think forward and meet the growing demands of the academic world with our AI-powered tools, including the Primo™, Research Assistant, Specto, Alma™, AI Metadata Assistant and AI Metadata Generator.
Revolutionizing academic search with Primo Research Assistant
Launched in September 2024, Primo Research Assistant redefines academic search by allowing users to ask questions in natural language. This powerful tool leverages AI to connect users with relevant, trusted academic content from the Central Discovery Index (CDI), a repository of over 5 billion scholarly articles. With Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), Primo makes it easier to find, explore and access the resources you need — without being bogged down by search mechanics. Researchers can focus on ideas, not search terms.
“We are quite surprised of the quality of writing in a correct French, and we believe it will still improve in making sense of prompts” Vicart Benoit, Sorbonne Université.
Specto -Transforming digital collections with AI
Specto is a digital collection platform built on Alma, designed to help institutions manage and enhance their digital objects, including images, texts, and special collections. By integrating AI, Specto simplifies metadata creation and automates the classification of materials, improving both the discovery process and cataloging efficiency. AI-powered metadata extraction groups similar items together and links them to relevant content, making it easier to uncover hidden gems within a collection. Specto empowers experts to work more efficiently, enabling institutions to manage large-scale collections with ease.
Specto is currently at development partnership stage and will be fully available by the start of 2026. Contact your Clarivate account manager for more details on release dates and early access options.
Alma AI Metadata Assistant – Streamlining cataloging
Cataloging is essential but time-consuming. The Alma AI Metadata Assistant helps alleviate this burden by suggesting metadata for bibliographic records, which catalogers can review, refine, or dismiss. By using AI-driven insights from Large Language Models (LLMs) and vision-based tools, this assistant makes cataloging faster and more accurate, allowing experts to focus on higher-level tasks. It also integrates community feedback to ensure the tool evolves and meets the real-world needs of catalogers.
AI Metadata Generator – Enhancing bibliographic records at scale
The AI Metadata Generator enriches bibliographic records in the Alma Community Zone, using AI to add essential fields such as Library of Congress Subject Headings, Summaries and Language Tags. Currently enriching ProQuest ™ Ebook Central titles, the tool aims to improve 100,000 records by the end of 2024. By automating the enrichment process, we help content providers save time and reduce costs while ensuring high-quality metadata for libraries.
Empowering libraries with responsible AI
As AI technology advances, Clarivate is dedicated to providing AI-powered solutions that transform academic libraries while upholding ethical standards. Grounded in trusted academic content and global privacy compliance, our tools enhance discovery, streamline cataloging and unlock the potential of digital collections.
At Clarivate, we’ve been using AI and machine learning for years, guided by our AI principles. Through a ‘human-in-the-center’ framework, we prioritize academic integrity, transparency, and responsible AI usage, ensuring that AI supports, rather than replaces, human expertise. By automating routine tasks and reducing the burden on catalogers, we empower libraries to maximize resources, improve efficiency and deliver greater accessibility to valuable academic content — all while maintaining integrity and compliance.
Learn more from this on-demand webinar recording about how we can help you harness the power of AI to improve research integrity, boost productivity and foster better learning outcomes.
