How I am using AI for academic work

I published a guest article on the AI-HED project website about how I work with AI.

The secret isn't better prompts or chasing shiny tools. It's in how you prepare the information you use for context in your prompts. Eighty per cent of my workflow is spent gathering and organising research using tools like Zotero, Obsidian, and, sometimes, AI research platforms to ensure every output is traceable and grounded in solid knowledge.

Once your research is organised, you can ask an LLM to turn your curated notes into lesson plans, exams, or interactive learning resources. The point is simple: AI should be your assistant, not a wizard out of your control. But to get there, we need to abandon the hype and wrong belief that AI will do everything for us.

Putting AI to Academic Use

A practical guide to integrating AI into academic work without losing agency. Learn how to build a sustainable research workflow using tools like Zotero, Obsidian, and specialized AI search engines—prioritizing organization and context over clever prompts.

Bruno AmaralBruno Amaral