How AI is Helping Me Write My Master's Thesis

Almost all students I talk to have some version of this belief:

"Using AI is cheating and should be avoided, or at least hidden from professors"

This mindset doesn't just create unnecessary anxiety—it actively prevents students from developing one of the most valuable skills for their academic and professional futures.

The truth? Using AI effectively requires transparency, curiosity, and relentless experimentation.

When I wrote my bachelor thesis back in 2023, GPT had a substantive effect on all parts of my work. The result? I completed my thesis in 30 days with the top grade in my cohort—using just half the allotted time.

Now, in 2025, my approach to writing and researching with AI has expanded significantly. Let me share the three most impactful ways I'm using AI to increase the quality of my current thesis—complete with the exact prompts so you can do the same.

1. Researching: Your AI Literature Review Assistant

The literature review phase used to consume weeks of my life. Now? It's one of the most efficient parts of my workflow.

I'm using AI to find citations, extract key insights, and summarize a paper's relevance to my research objectives. It's the single best way to minimize the time you spend screening for great articles.

My Go-To Research Prompts:

"Read this abstract and tell me if it's relevant to [specific research question]. 
If yes, what are the 3 key findings I should focus on?"

"Based on these 5 papers I've read [list papers], what are the common themes 
and contradictions I should explore further?"

"Explain the methodology used in this paper in simple terms. 
What are its strengths and limitations for my research on [topic]?"

This approach doesn't replace reading the papers—it helps you read smarter and extract value faster.

And I could not leave out my favourite prompt: The Paper Summary Prompt.
You paste it in with a pdf file and let it summarize the article in a way that suits your paper.

This prompt is the reason why I could review 30+ papers in a week with great accuracy and understanding of the field. Just put the prompt in, answer the questions and then send the generated prompt with your paper of choice that you're considering to read.

2. Coding: Your Pair Programming Partner

Coding is one of GPT's strong suits. It's incredibly intelligent and makes suggestions via the Copilot extensions that genuinely improve my work.

I'm currently doing a lot of text formatting and searching. GPT is invaluable for making small scripts for handling files, converting data, and reading CSVs. But in reality, it's great for everything from data visualization to statistical analysis.

My Favorite Coding Prompts:

"I need to extract specific data points from these 20 text files. Here's what the files 
look like [example]. Write a Python script that will extract [specific information] 
and compile it into a single CSV."

"I've written this code to analyze my data, but it's running slowly. 
[paste code] How can I optimize it for better performance?"

"Create a visualization that shows the relationship between these three variables 
in my dataset: [variables]. I want to highlight [specific insight]."

The key is to be specific about what you're trying to achieve, not just asking for general solutions.

I would also highly recommend that you download the Copilot extension for VScode. It runs on GPT-4o but is integrated directly into your - I program 5x faster with it installed.

3. Writing: The Underrated Superpower

Writing is likely the absolute strongest and most underrated ability of LLMs, despite "language" being in the acronym.

When I wrote my bachelor thesis, I wrote what I wanted to say, then asked GPT to give me suggestions on how to make it clear and academic. The results never disappointed.

My Writing Enhancement Prompts:

"Here's a draft of my methodology section: [paste text]. 
Suggest improvements to make it more precise and academically rigorous."

"Analyze this paragraph for clarity and coherence: [paragraph]. 
Provide 2-3 variations that maintain my ideas but improve the flow."

"I'm trying to explain [complex concept] to an audience with [background level]. 
Here's my current explanation: [text]. How can I make this more accessible 
while maintaining academic integrity?"

The Real Secret: Intellectual Partnership, Not Replacement

The most successful students aren't using AI to replace their thinking—they're using it to enhance it.

Think of AI as an intellectual sparring partner. You bring the domain knowledge, critical thinking, and research questions. The AI brings processing power, alternative perspectives, and communication skills.

Together, you can produce work that's both more efficient and higher quality than either could achieve alone.

Start Small, Experiment Often

If you're new to using AI in your academic work, don't feel like you need to transform your entire workflow overnight. Start with one small aspect of your process—perhaps asking for feedback on a single paragraph or help brainstorming research questions.

Pay attention to what works and what doesn't. The most valuable skill isn't knowing the perfect prompt from day one—it's developing the ability to iteratively improve your interactions with AI tools.

A Final Thought

The students who will thrive in the coming years aren't those who resist new tools out of fear or tradition. They're the ones who thoughtfully integrate these tools into their work while maintaining their intellectual ownership and academic integrity.

So the next time you're staring at a blank page or drowning in research papers, remember: AI isn't cheating. Used transparently and thoughtfully, it's one of the most powerful tools for academic success in your arsenal.

What about you? How are you using AI in your studies? Let me know in the comments below!

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