Librarian
LLMs and Research
What is an LLM?
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) based on large language models (LLMs) include OpenAI's ChatGPT, Microsoft's Copilot, and Google's Gemini. These generative text tools are predictive language models trained on source material consisting of open content from the internet. They are not discovery tools or search engines. When a user types a prompt or question, the tools respond by generating text content based on statistical regularities learned from the source material.
Strengths of LLMs and other generative AI for writing and library research:
The interactive and conversational structure of LLMs can help to stimulate thinking about a topic or to inform prewriting activities. It could be used to generate initial content that you can analyze, adapt, and revise based on your own knowledge and reading. In this way, it can help you to refine a writing or research idea in its early stages or to overcome writer's block or the fear of the blank page.
LLMs are also helpful tools for brainstorming related concepts, terms, and keywords on your research topic. You can ask LLMs if there are areas in your research that you haven't considered or encountered yet, and use that discussion as a jumping off point for further research.
Limitations of LLMs and other generative AI for writing and library research:
It can quickly and simply generate easy-to-understand responses to any question you throw at it. But the responses are only as good as the quality of input data it has been trained on. Its core strength lies in recognizing language patterns—not in reading and analyzing lengthy scholarly texts. Given that, it may not be the most reliable source for in-depth research. Remember:
- The text corpus does not include scholarly sources, such as academic journal articles and books that are behind subscription paywalls.
- The tools are known to fabricate or "hallucinate" information, or replicate misinformation.
- LLMs and other tools do not analyze, validate, or assess source material for accuracy.
Large Language Models and do not have the ability to match relevant sources to any given topic. They may do OK with some topics or sources, but it may also fabricate sources that don’t exist. If they give you a link to a resource, remember that it has NOT evaluated that source for accuracy or quality - it's just matching a pattern.
Microsoft. (2025, October 8). LLM assembling citation [Generative AI image]. Copilot.
Information adapted from:
Examples
For each of these LLM responses, identify the issue with the sources or citations provided by the LLM.
Each program was asked: What are some reliable ways for checking for DUI? / Can you focus on only the ones that involve some aspect of chemistry? / Can you provide some legitimate sources for that information? / Can you provide citations for those peer-reviewed sources?
Here are the chemistry-based methods used to detect DUI, focusing on how chemical principles are applied in breath, blood, and urine testing:
1. Breathalyzer Tests
These are the most common chemical tests used roadside.
Key Chemistry Concepts:
- Henry’s Law: Establishes a predictable ratio between alcohol in the blood and alcohol in the breath (typically 2100:1).
- Chemical Oxidation: Older breathalyzers use acidified potassium dichromate (K₂Cr₂O₇). Ethanol in the breath oxidizes to acetic acid, reducing dichromate ions and causing a color change from orange to green, which is measured spectrophotometrically[1].
- Fuel Cell Technology: Ethanol undergoes a redox reaction at a platinum electrode, generating an electric current proportional to alcohol concentration[2].
- Infrared Spectroscopy: Measures the absorption of infrared light by ethanol molecules in the breath[3].
2. Blood Tests
Considered the most accurate chemical method for DUI detection.
Key Chemistry Concepts:
- Direct Quantification: Blood samples are analyzed using gas chromatography or mass spectrometry to measure ethanol and other drugs.
- Sample Integrity: Proper storage is essential to prevent fermentation, which can artificially increase BAC due to microbial activity converting sugars into alcohol[4].
- Chain of Custody: Ensures the sample hasn’t been contaminated or mishandled, which could affect chemical analysis results[5].
3. Urine Tests
Used less frequently, but still chemically relevant.
Key Chemistry Concepts:
- Metabolite Detection: Urine tests detect alcohol metabolites like ethyl glucuronide (EtG) and ethyl sulfate (EtS), which remain in the body longer than ethanol itself.
- Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA) and Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) are common techniques for identifying these metabolites[6].
Summary Table
|
Test Type |
Chemical Principle |
Technology Used |
Accuracy |
|
Breathalyzer |
Oxidation, IR absorption, fuel cell redox |
Potassium dichromate, IR, fuel cell |
Moderate to High |
|
Blood Test |
Direct ethanol quantification |
GC, MS, enzymatic assays |
Very High |
|
Urine Test |
Metabolite detection |
LC-MS, EIA |
Low to Moderate |
Would you like a visual diagram showing how these chemical reactions work, or a deeper dive into one of the technologies like fuel cells or chromatography?
References
[1] www.clrn.org
[3] www.losangelesduiattorney.com
[4] www.muscalaw.com
[5] dui101.org
Sure! Here are the chemical testing methods for DUI:
Breathalyzer/Breath Tests
- How it works: Measures alcohol concentration in exhaled breath using chemical or infrared spectroscopy sensors
- Chemistry principle: Alcohol in your bloodstream evaporates into the air in your lungs. The device detects ethanol molecules and converts the breath alcohol concentration to estimate blood alcohol concentration (BAC)
- Types: Fuel cell sensors (electrochemical oxidation of ethanol) or infrared spectroscopy (measuring light absorption by ethanol molecules)
Blood Tests
- How it works: A blood sample is drawn and analyzed in a laboratory
- Chemistry principle: Directly measures the concentration of ethanol (and other substances) in the bloodstream using gas chromatography or enzymatic methods
- Most accurate: Considered the gold standard because it directly measures alcohol in blood rather than estimating from breath
- Can detect: Not just alcohol but also drugs like marijuana, opioids, and other impairing substances
Urine Tests
- How it works: Urine sample analyzed for alcohol metabolites and drugs
- Chemistry principle: Detects ethanol and its metabolites (like ethyl glucuronide) through immunoassay or chromatography techniques
- Limitations: Less accurate for determining current impairment since alcohol appears in urine after being processed by the body; better for detecting drug use
Blood tests are generally the most reliable chemically, followed by breath tests, then urine tests for measuring current alcohol impairment.
I should search for current, authoritative sources on DUI chemical testing methods to provide you with reliable references.Here are some legitimate sources for the information about DUI chemical testing:
Government/Official Sources
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
- NHTSA provides official DWI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Test curricula guides and manuals
- Website: https://www.nhtsa.gov/
Medical/Scientific Sources
Medical News Today
- Explains that breathalyzer tests work because alcohol evaporates from blood into the lungs, and the concentration in lungs relates to blood concentration using a partition ratio of approximately 2,100:1
- Article: "Breathalyzer test: How it works, what it measures, and accuracy"
- URL: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/breathalyzer-test
Legal/Professional Sources
FindLaw (Thomson Reuters legal information)
- Provides information on blood and breathalyzer tests as chemical tests used to measure BAC after DUI arrest
- URL: https://www.findlaw.com/dui/
LawInfo
- Describes how breathalyzer tests calculate BAC based on breath samples and the importance of device calibration
- URL: https://www.lawinfo.com/resources/dui/
Additional Technical Sources
- Information on breathalyzer technologies including infrared spectroscopy and fuel cell technology for detecting alcohol levels
- Details on blood testing methods including gas chromatography for laboratory analysis
For the most authoritative information, I'd recommend starting with the NHTSA resources, as they're the federal agency responsible for setting standards for DUI testing in the United States.
Consensus
It's okay to use LLMs to explain concepts to you or help you understand topics better. But if the accuracy of the source matters, or you need the information to be traced accurately to a scholarly article, try an AI-enhanced search tool like Consensus instead.