AI literature-review tools: build a screening record you can defend
Evidence date: 2026-10-07

Decision criteria
Coverage, selected-plan exports and access to full text.

Editorial evaluation scenario
Fictional review includes adult studies with a comparison group. Three supplied abstracts include one pediatric case report.
Record one inclusion or exclusion reason for each paper. Distinguish population, study design and measured outcome; similar titles do not establish that studies answer the same question.
Coverage, selected-plan exports and access to full text.

Input / draft / final edit
Fictional review includes adult studies with a comparison group. Three supplied abstracts include one pediatric case report.
Include all three because each mentions the topic.
Include the two abstracts meeting the stated criteria. Exclude the pediatric case report with the reason recorded; verify the original papers before extraction.

Before buying
Elicit
Documented: Elicit describes research assistance and literature-review workflows.
Check: Coverage, selected-plan exports and access to full text.
Manual or conventional route
Documented: Use a reference manager and spreadsheet when the paper set is small and already identified.
Check: Editorial workflow advice; this is not a measured comparison or vendor performance claim.

Official sources
https://elicit.com/

Record your own test: selected plan, date, input, output, corrections, export and total cost. This sheet does not claim a vendor test.