By Enric Chust, on 5 March 2025
STORM is an artificial intelligence tool developed by researchers at Stanford University that can transform online information on a given topic into a coherent, well-structured text.
Imagine that you need to write about a specific subject or want to learn about a particular topic—STORM allows you to skip the research phase and the search for reliable sources, as it does that for you.
STORM is the equivalent of having a team of researchers who curate content and present it in an organized and easy-to-understand format. It even provides references for every piece of data so that you know exactly where the information comes from. On its website, the creators describe it as an alternative to Wikipedia.
Below, we’ll explore the features and possibilities of this fascinating AI tool, show you how to apply it to your marketing, and go over what sets it apart from other AI tools on the market.
How to Start Using STORM
Before explaining how this AI tool works, let’s go over how to get started. STORM is completely free to use—all you need to do is click here and sign up. The registration process is quick and can be done using your Google account.
Once logged in, you’ll see a page like this, where you simply type the topic you want to explore into the search bar.
How Does STORM Work?
On STORM’s main screen, located just below the search bar, you’ll notice that it pulls its information from the Bing search engine. Additionally, the tool operates in two modes:
STORM Mode: This functionality generates articles, as discussed in the introduction.
Co-STORM Mode: This functionality allows you to have a conversation with the tool.
Below, we’ll explain each mode in more detail. But first, you should know that on the left side of the screen, there’s a section called “My Library,” where you can save all your research, and one called “Discover,” where you can access research done by other users. There’s also a “New Session” option, which you should click whenever you want to start a new investigation.
One important note: all research is public by default, meaning your projects may also appear in the “Discover” section for other users.
Source: Stanford University
Here's an example of a draft for an article about "Inbound Marketing" that we asked Storm to write:
Source: Storm
STORM Mode for Article Writing
When you type a topic into the search bar, STORM assigns it to an AI model specialized in that field. For instance, if you search for a topic related to business growth, STORM activates its market-focused AI. This expert AI gathers real-time information from the internet, selecting the most updated data.
Then, the tool activates its writing AI, which begins asking the expert AI-targeted questions to organize the information in a structured way. This entire process takes just a few minutes.
To demonstrate how it works, we tested the tool by searching for “SEO Optimization.” After about three minutes of generating the text (though it often takes less than that), we had our result.
During the creation process, the tool allows you to specify the purpose of your search for more tailored content. For example, we added “How to improve the SEO of a newly launched website.”
The result was a highly detailed and well-structured article (including a table of contents), which you can view directly on the platform or download as a PDF. We encourage you to try it for yourself.
At the end of every article, STORM provides a “Feedback” section with three questions about its performance, helping developers refine the tool.
Another noteworthy feature is the “See BrainSTORMing Process” button, located just before the start of the article, where you can review the steps the tool followed to create the content.
Co-STORM Conversational Mode
This mode allows you to ask the tool questions about any topic and see previously asked questions. It’s a great way to deepen your understanding of a subject. To use it, simply enter your topic in the search bar again. From there, you’ll have access to various questions and can add your own in the “Join their conversation” section at the bottom.
Who Can Benefit Most From This Content Curation Tool?
Since STORM is designed to automate the entire research and idea organization process (a common step for many users before writing an article), it’s an ideal tool for:
Content writers
Students
Researchers
Educators
STORM vs. ChatGPT, NotebookLM, andPerplexity
These four AI tools share similarities, and you may have wondered while reading this article how STORM differs from other platforms on the market. Here’s a quick breakdown:
STORM vs. ChatGPT
While ChatGPT can also generate extensive responses based on reliable sources, it’s primarily designed for conversations and answering questions. In contrast, STORM focuses on academic article writing, producing more in-depth and lengthy pieces. Essentially, ChatGPT has more of a general focus, while STORM is better suited for academic and professional content creation.STORM vs. NotebookLM (by Google)
Both tools can specialize in topics of your choice, but NotebookLM relies solely on information you provide—it doesn’t search the web for data. Additionally, NotebookLM isn’t designed to produce in-depth, expert-level articles but rather to simplify complex or specialized information.STORM vs. Perplexity
Perplexity’s functionality is closer to ChatGPT when its “Search Engine” feature is enabled. It acts as a search engine, providing direct answers to user questions rather than generating detailed articles.
