Latent Lab: Large Language Models for Knowledge Exploration

Abstract: This paper investigates the potential of AI models, particularly LLMs, to support knowledge exploration and augment human creativity during ideation. We present "Latent Lab" an interactive tool for discovering connections among MIT Media Lab research projects, emphasizing "exploration" over search. The work offers insights into collaborative AI systems by addressing the challenges of organizing, searching, and synthesizing content. In a user study, the tool's success was evaluated based on its ability to introduce users to an unfamiliar knowledge base, ultimately setting the groundwork for the ongoing advancement of human-AI knowledge exploration systems.