Skip to content
KIN

How KIN works

From a real question to the research behind the answer.

KIN is designed to do the parts of research that usually require specialized training — and to show its work at every step.

  1. 01QuestionAsked in plain language
  2. 02SearchTrusted scholarly sources
  3. 03OrganizeDuplicates brought together
  4. 04PrioritizeKIN Relevance surfaces meaningful matches
  5. 05SynthesizeA clear answer, citations attached

The process

Eight steps, in plain language.

  1. 01

    Ask a natural-language question

    Ask the way you would ask a knowledgeable colleague. No search syntax, database knowledge, or special terminology required.

    “Does attending an HBCU affect career outcomes?”

  2. 02

    KIN interprets the research intent

    KIN identifies what you are really asking — the population, topic, outcomes, and context that matter — and translates it into the language researchers use.

    Population · Topic · Outcomes · Context

  3. 03

    KIN searches trusted sources

    KIN looks across scholarly databases, journals, and research repositories — not the open web.

  4. 04

    Results are organized and deduplicated

    The same study often appears in several places. KIN brings records together so each piece of research is counted once.

  5. 05

    KIN Relevance prioritizes meaningful matches

    Studies are assessed for how meaningfully they connect to Black populations and to your question — not simply whether they contain the right keywords.

    About KIN Relevance
  6. 06

    Evidence is assessed and synthesized

    KIN explains what the most relevant research shows, where findings agree or differ, and how strong the evidence is overall.

  7. 07

    Citations remain visible

    Every claim in an answer points back to the studies behind it. Nothing is presented without a source.

  8. 08

    You can inspect the research yourself

    Open any study to see its population, methodology, and limitations, then follow the link to the original source.

In the app

What each step looks like.

The same process, as it appears on your phone.
  1. KIN app screen asking “What do you want to understand?”, with a question box, topic chips, and questions people are exploring.

    Step 01

    Ask a question in plain language, or start from a topic.

  2. KIN app screen showing progress while it finds relevant research, reviews the evidence, compares findings, and builds an answer.

    Steps 02–04

    KIN reads the question, searches trusted sources, and brings duplicate records together.

  3. KIN app screen “How KIN finds research” comparing keyword search with KIN Relevance, and a 94% Match Score marked highly relevant.

    Step 05

    KIN Relevance puts the studies that are truly about the question first.

  4. KIN app answer to “Why are Black women experiencing higher maternal mortality rates?” with a short answer, strong evidence from 24 studies, and key findings.

    Step 06

    A short answer, the key findings, and how strong the evidence is.

  5. KIN app evidence list showing 5 of 24 studies, each with source type, open access label, evidence strength, and View study and Explain buttons.

    Step 07

    Every study behind the answer, with its source and access clearly labeled.

  6. KIN app “Understand this study” screen with study design, year, citations, access, and the number that matters: a 3.0× mortality ratio.

    Step 08

    Open any study to see its design, key numbers, and limitations.

Screens from the KIN prototype. Studies shown are demo data.

Anatomy of an answer

Start simple. Go as deep as you need.

Every answer is layered. Read the summary in thirty seconds, or follow it all the way down to the original study.
  1. The short answerTwo or three plain-language sentences.
  2. What the research showsKey findings, each with citations.
  3. Evidence strengthStrong, mixed, emerging, or limited.
  4. The studiesPopulation, methods, limitations, Match Score.
  5. Original sourceFull text, publisher page, or repository.

Our commitments

What KIN is — and is not.

KIN is

  • A guide to what the research says
  • Clear about uncertainty and limitations
  • Built on scholarly sources you can inspect
  • Written in plain, respectful language

KIN is not

  • A replacement for reading the research
  • Medical, legal, or financial advice
  • A source of unsourced claims
  • Something you are asked to trust blindly

Early access

Help shape what KIN becomes.

We are building KIN with researchers, students, educators, community leaders, and early users who believe credible research should be easier to access and understand.

Join Early AccessPartner with KIN