New feature (v36): Smart Search Synopsis

Mark Barnes (Logos) said:

We may have some other options in the future.

Mark, you could have pay as you go AI tokens called Logos Buffet, I will test it for you.

This is truly an amazing feature. I did two smart searches and was amazed at the results:

1. What is the clausal structure of Habakkuk 3:17-19? and

2. What literary features are there in Habakkuk 3?

The results were stunning!

This feature is definitely a game-changer.

Thanks and blessings.

David Pugh said:

It would be really helpful to be able to restrict the AI questions to certain collections.  Is there are a way to do this?

A Books search will run on only your books and from there you can filter however you want (by collections, authors, tags etc).

So far, I love this feature. Great way to summarize and synthesize research. 

The tool is very good! I am pretty sure others have mentioned this, but I am somewhat unsettled that the resources it uses for references are not my preferred ones. Yet it would not appear it's as simple as using a particular priority type, I don't think? Or maybe the evolution of the tool cold take the user to the next step - "OK, how do I find other resources discussing this same answer?"

Here's one I did this morning, mostly because I knew it could find it quickly:

Excellent point. Thank you. 

la sinopsis es demasiado superficial y cita libros que no tienen que ver con el tema tratado.

Can you have smart search synopsis pull in material from your notes? I've got a lot of notes, and I'd like AI to engage with the material I've written too.

If this question has already been asked on one of the numerous AI threads on the forums, I'm sorry! I tried searching and didn't find anything relevant to my question. We need a smart search synopsis for the forums.

Thanks.

Finally, Logos has a search that will respond to a general question.  I've had to go to AI sites to get answers to general questions like "what is the distance between Antioch and Jerusalem."  I found that Logos was inadequate to answer these type of questions.  The Smart Search is an improvement. It is also helpful that it lists the sources of the information it provides.  This allows the user to accomplish an in-depth study using the sources of information.  I think this is a vast improvement over the Logos searches available in the past. 

AI Search is a great feature. I love it and use it daily. It saves a lot of searching in commentaries. For example, " Can Psalm 40:17 be an expression of humility?"

However, language settings may need some improvement. When I ask my questions in English (though I also possess Dutch resources), only English resources are used. More annoying, when I ask my question in Dutch, only Dutch resources are used, only a fragment of my library. That's not good. I'd like to ask a question in Dutch while using all resources to get an answer.

Related to this: It would be very helpful if AI answers could be translated by choice. Sometimes I prefer an English answer, sometimes I'd like to translate it into Dutch.

I hope these remarks are helpful to further improve this already great feature!

Smart Search Strike out big time:
Reading Isaiah, during Advent, I run into Isa 1:15: And when you stretch forth your hands, I will turn away my eyes from you: and when you multiply prayer, I will not hear: for your hands are full of blood.

So I query Smart Search Synopsis

Query: List the bible verses where God says that He will not hear someone's prayer

A.I. answer: According to the provided articles, there are no specific Bible verses mentioned where God explicitly states that He will not hear someone's prayer. In fact, one of the articles emphasizes that God hears prayers, citing 1 John 5:14-15 which states that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us[1]. Another article mentions Psalm 4:3, asserting that "God hears every prayer"[2]. The articles generally focus on the importance of prayer, God's willingness to listen, and the need for perseverance in prayer[3]. It's worth noting that the provided information does not directly address the user's query about instances where God says He will not hear prayers. [1] Dabbs, M., “He Hears”, Moment with God: A Devotional on Every Biblical Book (ed. J. D. Barry – R. Van Noord) (Bellingham, WA 2014). [2] Veerman, D., Bible Study Youth (Bellingham, WA 2024). [3] Boulding, M. with Saint Augustine, Expositions of the Psalms 51–72 (ed. J. E. Rotelle) (The Works of Saint Augustine: A Translation for the 21st Century; Hyde Park, NY 2001) XVII, 306.

WRONG ANSWER, NO GO at this Station.

From the New Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge, NTSK: at Isa 1:15 Is *59:2. Ps +66:18. Pr 1:28. Mi 3:4. Jn +*9:31 (Also elsewhere in NTSK Psalm 18:41; Job 27:9, 35:12; Proverbs 28:9; Zechariah 7:13)

That’s eleven (11) verses relating to God NOT hearing prayer.
When Smart Search gets it wrong, it is not only a wasted of credit(s), but its a waste of time and potentially deleterious disinformation.

Pax Christi in regno Christi

Smart Search Strike out big time:

Reading Isaiah during Advent, I run into Isa 1:15: And when you stretch forth your hands, I will turn away my eyes from you: and when you multiply prayer, I will not hear: for your hands are full of blood.

Q: List the bible verses where God says that He will not hear someone's prayer

A.I. answer: According to the provided articles, there are no specific Bible verses mentioned where God explicitly states that He will not hear someone's prayer. In fact, one of the articles emphasizes that God hears prayers, citing 1 John 5:14-15 which states that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us[1]. Another article mentions Psalm 4:3, asserting that "God hears every prayer"[2]. The articles generally focus on the importance of prayer, God's willingness to listen, and the need for perseverance in prayer[3]. It's worth noting that the provided information does not directly address the user's query about instances where God says He will not hear prayers. [1] Dabbs, M., “He Hears”, Moment with God: A Devotional on Every Biblical Book (ed. J. D. Barry – R. Van Noord) (Bellingham, WA 2014). [2] Veerman, D., Bible Study Youth (Bellingham, WA 2024). [3] Boulding, M. with Saint Augustine, Expositions of the Psalms 51–72 (ed. J. E. Rotelle) (The Works of Saint Augustine: A Translation for the 21st Century; Hyde Park, NY 2001) XVII, 306.

WRONG ANSWER, NO GO at this Station.

From The New Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge, NTSK: at Isa 1:15 Is *59:2. Ps +66:18. Pr 1:28. Mi 3:4. Jn +*9:31 (Also elsewhere in NTSK Psalm 18:41; Job 27:9, 35:12; Proverbs 28:9; Zechariah 7:13)

That’s eleven (11) verses relating to God NOT hearing prayer.
When Smart Search gets it wrong, it is not only a wasted of credit(s), but its a waste of time and potentially deleterious disinformation.

Pax Christi in regno Christi

Query: Wrath of God applied to believers

Returns 12 Locked (unowned) resources of the first 20 provided, the rest of the initial generated list fares no better. I have a decent Library of 7,400+ resources at significant expense and I get 60% unowned resources in a Smart Search??

If I query my Library with ("Wrath of God" OR "God's Wrath") NEAR believers , I yield:

Your Books 583 results in 249 articles in 186 resources

If a Smart Search is returning 60% unowned resources while missing the plethora of information in my owned library as indicated in this simple query, there is something wrong. Granted, my query is not answered, and I have to research for it, but it's better than me being force fed an answer which researching the provided resources is problematic.

BTW, when will the Smart Search provide arguments and references to all (or at least most) orthodox positions rather than dogmatically stating only one in the Synopsis? Especially given the variance in belief among the Baptized Faithful in Christ, this feature or capability seems absent. If I run my query, I will encounter the various beliefs in there differences, contradictions, and supports.

Pax Christi in regno Christi

BTW, in continuance of preceding post, 

Smart Search Strike out big time,

@Top8305 Just an observation, but I've noticed not all of your searches are AI, they are Precise searches. Check the top right before you hit enter to make sure the AI sparkle icon is showing.

You may try rewording some of you AI searches also. Granted I've found AI doesn't do as well with natural language Bible searches as it does in other books

Double-click a word goes to directly by default to an A.I. Smart Search, eating credit like Pac-Man. How does one configure to a plain precise Search, please? Shouldn't a precise search be the default rather than a Smart Search (which should be chosen, given the credit-draw)?

Thanks and Merry Christmas

So … I tried this, and found it seriously wanting in multiple ways. The results include "the most common view" (as I would expect from an AI based tool), and not anything that's outside the mainstream.

I would really prefer Logos put time and effort into making the basic product better than on things that really promote conformity. For instance, a simple way to export search results into a spreadsheet or set of links into the resources so I can see what I've already looked at, what I haven't, etc., would be really helpful.

Can we bring back the ability to directly link to a resource in the program instead of being forced to go through an advertising page on ref.ly as well?

Query: new testament verses saying to place the other as more important than self

The answer should include Philippians 2:3 at least.

”EDIT: Oops, I see I did not copy your query precisely; I put "others" rather than "the other." When I used the latter, I got results closer to yours:”

Sometimes the way we ask the question makes a world of difference. The same is true in real life situations. Here, it probably affects the syntax of the search when using “others” vs “the other.” It appears to be looking for the same thing in terms of content, but the word choice is causing it to search it differently based on the syntax thus looking at different resources to fit the way the question is worded.

This is a search, not a chatbot. It is also a search in resources, not the Bible. It is looking for what we ask it from a selected library. The way we ask may get different results. Is it perfect, no. Does it miss out? Yes. Is it a waste, no…it did what we asked just not what we necessarily intended.

I agree, I’ve asked questions and got bad information. In that case, I change how I ask (rewording the question) or change how I search (smart vs precise). We have to remember it is a tool that has a set of perimeters it works in. Sometimes we forget that and expect it to do exactly what we want when we want it. Also, the way it is designed at the moment has limitations and we must know those limits, which I think we are trying to figure out.

I'll admit that this has the potential to be a very valuable addition to the Smart Search Feature!

This poses an interesting question. Are the results from resources that are not among our "preferred" resources as valid as the ones from "our" preferred resources? Do they have adequate context, so we know they reliably address the search from our God-honoring, Biblical point of view?

What we are speaking about here is religious bias (Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, Congregational, etc.)

In other words, can we trust Logos, now and in the future, to provide Biblical non-biased results in these AI searches?

A little change of words, led to a much more accurate answer. See examples below.

First smart search (with moderate results): is there a connection between "saying grace at meals" and 1 Korinth 10:31

Second smart search (with good results): is there a connection between "grace at meals" and 1 Cor. 10:31

• Now I used the exact headword "Grace at meals" as found in dictionaries. I think this makes a real difference for AI.
• Maybe it is better to never use ""unless an exact match should be found

Greetings,

Johan Barth

Example 1 (with moderate results)

LOGOS Smart Search Books 2025-01-07: is there a connection between "saying grace at meals" and 1 Korinth 10:31

The connection between "saying grace at meals" and 1 Corinthians 10:31 can be inferred from the articles provided, although not explicitly stated. One of the articles mentions that in certain religious practices, it is customary to say grace before and after meals, praising God as the provider of food[1]. This act of thanksgiving aligns with the broader concept of glorifying God in all aspects of life, including eating, which is the essence of 1 Corinthians 10:31. Another article discusses the practice of "saying grace after meals" as an expression of gratitude for God's gifts[2]. The Catechism of the Roman Catholic Church also emphasizes the importance of asking God for daily bread and giving thanks, particularly in the context of Christian families saying grace at meals[3]. These practices reflect the spirit of glorifying God in daily activities, including eating, which resonates with the principle expressed in 1 Corinthians 10:31, although the specific verse is not directly referenced in the provided articles.

[1] Josephus, F., & Whiston, W. (1987). The works of Josephus: complete and unabridged (p. 605). Hendrickson.

[2] Kurth, G. (1907–1913). Actual Grace. In C. G. Herbermann, E. A. Pace, C. B. Pallen, T. J. Shahan, & J. J. Wynne (Eds.), The Catholic Encyclopedia: An International Work of Reference on the Constitution, Doctrine, Discipline, and History of the Catholic Church: Vols. I–XV. The Encyclopedia Press; The Universal Knowledge Foundation.

[3] Catholic Church. (1997). Catechism of the Catholic Church (2nd Ed., p. 680). Libreria Editrice Vaticana.

-> m.a.w. LOGOS Smart Search ziet wel een verband, maar vindt geen artikelen die dit verband expliciet leggen. Hij mist dus o.a. de directe referenties in de artikelen uit NUBD en CathDict. Leest hij de afkortingen niet goed?

Example 2 (with good and accurate results!)

LOGOS Smart Search Books 2025-01-07: is there a connection between "grace at meals" and 1 Cor. 10:31

There is indeed a connection between "grace at meals" and 1 Corinthians 10:31. This verse, which advises believers to do all things, including eating and drinking, to the glory of God, is often cited as a scriptural basis for the practice of saying grace[1][2][3][4]. The custom of praying before and after meals has been observed since early Christian times, with Church Fathers like Clement of Alexandria and Tertullian mentioning it in their writings[1][2]. The practice involves giving thanks to God for the food provided and asking for His blessing[4][5]. This aligns with the example set by Jesus, who is recorded in the Gospels as blessing food before eating[3][4][5]. The term "grace" in this context represents both thanks (gratiae) and blessing (benedictio)[3]. Over time, various formulas for grace at meals developed, with some early examples preserved in ancient Christian texts[1][3].

[1] Leclercq, H. (1907–1913). Grace at Meals. In C. G. Herbermann, E. A. Pace, C. B. Pallen, T. J. Shahan, & J. J. Wynne (Eds.), The Catholic Encyclopedia: An International Work of Reference on the Constitution, Doctrine, Discipline, and History of the Catholic Church: Vols. I–XV. The Encyclopedia Press; The Universal Knowledge Foundation.

[2] McGovern, J. J., ed. (1906). In Catholic Pocket Dictionary and Cyclopedia (p. 101). Extension Press.

[3] Addis, W. E., & Arnold, T. (1887). In A Catholic Dictionary (Sixth Edition, With Additions, p. 386). The Catholic Publication Society Co.

[4] Unger, M. F., Harrison, R. K., Vos, H. F., Barber, C. J., & Unger, M. F. (1988). In The new Unger’s Bible dictionary (Rev. and updated ed.). Moody Press.

[5] M’Clintock, J., & Strong, J. (1891). Grace at Meals. In Cyclopædia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature (Vol. 3, p. 963). Harper & Brothers, Publishers.