How to turn AI into your own research assistant with this free Google tool

When I need to research a topic these days, I often turn to AI, at least as a starting point. But depending on my questions and which chatbot I use, the response may not always be satisfying — it can be too brief or canned. In that case, I find myself wanting more. That’s when I turn to Google’s Learn About experiment.

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As the name implies, Learn About is more than just a way to get a quick answer to a question. Instead, it’s a teaching tool that invites you to dive more deeply into your chosen topic. With Learn About, you can submit a text prompt, a PDF, or an image file to kick off your query. In response, Google’s AI provides details on the topic at hand. 

What’s more, the answer is broken down into visually interesting and informative sections that encourage you to explore the topic. The AI might display an interactive list, explain how or why something works, and show related content. You might also find suggestions and questions to help you dive in even further. Here’s how I use Google’s Learn About.

1. Browse to the Learn About page

To get started, head to the Learn About web page and sign in with your Google account if prompted. The page suggests several topics you might want to explore off the bat, such as why we yawn, how to improve your memory and learning abilities, and how music affects the brain. The one about yawning intrigues me, so I select that.

2. Explore the sample topic

In response, Google delivers the basic information in a format that invites learning. An interactive list breaks down the topic into different areas, any of which you can explore. A list of misconceptions clears up some common fallacies about the topic. In this case, Google refutes the notion that you yawn only when you’re tired or bored.

The AI even poses some questions for me to chew on and lets me reveal the answer when I’m ready. At this point, I can ask Google to simplify or go deeper in its response, and request images related to the topic. Further down, Google suggests questions I can ask to continue to investigate the topic. Along the way, Google provides sources to help confirm if the information presented is accurate.

3. Suggest your own topic

To explore a topic of your own choice, click the sidebar and select New Chat. Google saves all conversations to your history, so you can return to any of them. I ask it to tell me about the theory that we’re all living in a computer simulation and not in an actual physical world or universe.

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In response, I receive an interactive list with subtopics such as how such a simulation would be designed by advanced creators and how it might be indistinguishable from reality. The AI asks me what ethical considerations or risks might prevent a civilization from running a simulated reality. I’m able to think about that before revealing the AI’s answer.

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A YouTube video presents an interview with the famous theoretical physicist Michio Kaku. Next, I can ask the AI to simplify or deepen its response and show me related photos. At the end is a series of suggested questions I can ask to explore the topic and different angles in more depth.

4. Share a document

Instead of writing your question at the prompt, you can upload a PDF. You might do this if you have a document that covers a topic you want to explore. At the prompt for a new chat, click the upload button and select the PDF you want to use. Here, I upload a PDF of a report on how to use Instagram for business.

Google starts with a summary of the file. The interactive list shows me the key areas in the document, any of which I could explore on its own. I can tell the AI to simplify or go deeper and pose any of the suggested questions. The PDF itself appears in the left pane, so I can easily refer to the original document.

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I ask Google to go deeper, which regenerates the response. But this time, the analysis is more in-depth, explaining how to engage with the audience, how to use hashtags effectively, and how to keep your Instagram business account consistent.

5. Share an image

You can also explore a topic revealed in a photo or other image. At the prompt for a new chat, click the upload button and select the image you want to use. On my end, I upload a photo of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial in Japan, the only structure in the city left standing after the atomic bomb was dropped.

To start, I could draw on the image to highlight a specific area and then ask a question about it. Otherwise, I could simply send the image to the AI for analysis. Google quickly identifies the building and shows me the interactive list to investigate the structure’s survival, its status as a symbol of peace, and its recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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I’m asked to think about how a structure like the Atomic Bomb Dome contributes to historical memory and the promotion of peace. The AI answers that the Dome is a visual reminder of the consequences of war and the importance of peace, fostering reflection, and dialogue.

One area that intrigued me was how the building survived the blast. That is one of the suggested questions, so I select it. Google cites a couple of reasons for its survival, including its reinforced concrete structure and the overall design of the building.

Finally, Google asks me to describe what the building symbolizes and why its preservation is important. I could type or speak my answer and get feedback from the AI. After submitting my response, Google tells me that my analysis is sound but that I could provide more specific details, including the lessons the building can teach us.

I like the way Learn About shies away from easy answers and instead engages you in a deeper conversation about a topic to help you explore all the avenues. As a virtual teacher, the tool offers an interesting and interactive departure from the usual AI responses. For those reasons, it’s certainly worth trying. Just remember that AI can make mistakes, so you’ll want to at least check out the sources for each answer to make sure they’re accurate.