By: Dr. Elshareef Ibrahim Idris
It was by mere coincidence that I stumbled upon an announcement in late September and early October 2024 about a free training grant on one of the AI program platforms. Given the growing popularity of AI programs and their widespread application in economic, technological, and scientific domains—and fueled by my curiosity and eagerness to explore AI tools in academic and research contexts—I was keen to attend several workshops and training seminars focusing on the use of AI programs in various fields of humanities and applied sciences.
Eventually, the moment came when I participated in the Schobot training program, which spanned three days. From the first moments of the session, I realized that this experience was different, new, or at least unconventional in such workshops or training sessions. This distinction lay in the methodology employed in delivering the program and the scientific content woven into the sessions.
The experience? No, the astonishment!
The program was divided into two parts. The theoretical portion was presented in detail with clear steps by the trainer and ambassador, Dr. Mohamed Arqas. Following this, the practical part was introduced by the research assistant robot, Schobot, in the form of tasks and scientific assignments required from all participants to execute and submit.
In the theoretical segment, the trainer began by explaining the nature of the program, its origin, and a brief background about its founder, Dr. Mohamed Anas Al-Baz. He then elaborated on the practical steps to use the robot on the platform. His detailed explanations revealed innovative and groundbreaking measures for utilizing AI tools in research methodologies—a journey of a thousand miles in half a step!
With remarkable ease, the program enables access to valuable and profound information across various fields and disciplines. The process simply requires researchers to specify their query precisely, upload relevant references, and await succinct and insightful responses drawn from books and research papers. This is achieved while adhering to ethical standards and respecting intellectual property rights, officially recognized worldwide.
Schobot is, indeed, an “automated reading assistant” that significantly facilitates researchers’ completion of every stage of the research process in record time with astounding precision.
It does not create research but excels in assisting and empowering researchers, offering a balance of simplicity and sophistication that benefits both novices and seasoned experts in their research endeavors.
More than 25 years ago, Google emerged from Stanford University in the United States, marking the end of one era in research and the beginning of another. Searching for even a small piece of information or the meaning of a word once required visits to libraries and hours, if not days, of continuous reading amidst an aura of exploration and uncertainty.
Today, Schobot, an AI-powered research assistant, represents another monumental leap, poised to revolutionize the scientific research landscape. It is anticipated to gain the trust of the academic community worldwide and significantly transform researchers’ behaviors, potentially rendering traditional search engines like Google and its peers obsolete in the near future.
Key Strengths of Schobot:
1. Unique methodology and procedures that directly influence researchers’ thought processes.
2. Advanced algorithms that enable lightning-fast retrieval of relevant data and information based on keywords and semantic cues.
3. Unparalleled time-saving capabilities, providing researchers with additional hours to enhance productivity.
4. Efficient access to prior research, delivering insights with high relevance and impact.
5. Sophisticated reference reading and classification tools that allow researchers to identify knowledge gaps, leading to increased scientific output.
6. High adaptability across disciplines, providing resources for humanities and applied sciences alike.
7. Accurate translation capabilities that enrich researchers’ knowledge by bridging language barriers.
8. Precise citation and referencing mechanisms, maintaining high flexibility.
9. Enhanced privacy features, ensuring that user data is secure and inaccessible to external search engines.
Conclusion:
Schobot represents a model of AI innovation destined to become indispensable for researchers at all stages of their work, across countries and disciplines. It is a productive companion for today and a promising foundation for the future.
