TILDE vs. Skimle

TILDE (Term Independent Likelihood moDEl) functions as a framework designed for the re-ranking and expansion of passages, leveraging BERT to enhance retrieval performance by combining sparse term matching with sophisticated contextual representations. The original TILDE version computes term weights across the entire BERT vocabulary, which often leads to extremely large index sizes. To address this limitation, TILDEv2 introduces a more efficient approach by calculating term weights exclusively for words present in the expanded passages, resulting in indexes that can be 99% smaller than those produced by the initial TILDE model. This improved efficiency is achieved by deploying TILDE as a passage expansion model, which enriches passages with top-k terms (for instance, the top 200) to improve their content quality. Furthermore, it provides scripts that streamline the processes of indexing collections, re-ranking BM25 results, and training models using datasets such as MS MARCO, thus offering a well-rounded toolkit for enhancing information retrieval tasks. In essence, TILDEv2 signifies a major leap forward in the management and optimization of passage retrieval systems, contributing to more effective and efficient information access strategies. This progression not only benefits researchers but also has implications for practical applications in various domains.

Skimle transforms the process of turning unstructured qualitative data into structured and analyzable datasets through advanced artificial intelligence techniques. Unlike RAG chatbots that merely fetch unrelated snippets, Skimle diligently processes entire document collections from the beginning—assessing each section, extracting insights, and organizing them into a well-defined thematic hierarchy. Users can upload a variety of qualitative data formats, including interview transcripts, PDFs, audio or video recordings, and reports. The approach Skimle adopts, inspired by rigorous thematic analysis, systematically codes every text segment, identifies recurring themes, and creates a detailed "spreadsheet" that arranges documents as rows and themes as columns. Each insight is meticulously linked to verified quotes, guaranteeing that the information presented is accurate and free from any fabrication. With support for over 100 languages and the ability to manage more than 1,000 documents in a single project, Skimle adheres strictly to GDPR regulations relevant in the EU, ensuring thorough traceability between themes and their associated quotes. Additionally, users benefit from customizable category options, AI-enhanced chat for rationale, and the ability to export results into Word, Excel, or PowerPoint formats. What distinguishes Skimle is its unique capability to combine the rigorous methodologies of academic research with the swift processing power of artificial intelligence. Tasks that typically take weeks to complete using NVivo or similar traditional tools can be accomplished in just a few hours with Skimle, all while providing essential audit trails necessary for peer review and validation. This remarkable efficiency not only conserves valuable time but also significantly improves the overall qualitative research experience, making it more accessible and streamlined than has ever been possible before. Furthermore, Skimle’s innovative approach enhances the quality of research outputs, allowing researchers to focus on deriving meaningful conclusions from their data rather than getting bogged down in the analytical process.