2 2
3[← All use cases](https://developers.openai.com/codex/use-cases)3[← All use cases](https://developers.openai.com/codex/use-cases)
4 4
5Copy page [Export as PDF](https://developers.openai.com/codex/use-cases/learn-a-new-concept/?export=pdf)
6
5Use Codex to study material such as research papers or courses, split the reading across subagents, gather context, and produce a Markdown report with diagrams.7Use Codex to study material such as research papers or courses, split the reading across subagents, gather context, and produce a Markdown report with diagrams.
6 8
7Intermediate9Intermediate
24 26
25 Generate illustrative, non-exact visual assets when a Markdown-native diagram is not enough.27 Generate illustrative, non-exact visual assets when a Markdown-native diagram is not enough.
26 28
29| Skill | Why use it |
30| --- | --- |
31| [ImageGen](https://github.com/openai/skills/tree/main/skills/.curated/imagegen) | Generate illustrative, non-exact visual assets when a Markdown-native diagram is not enough. |
32
27## Starter prompt33## Starter prompt
28 34
29 I want to learn a new concept from this research paper: [paper path or URL].35 I want to learn a new concept from this research paper: [paper path or URL].
31- Spawn one subagent to map the paper's problem statement, contribution, method, experiments, and limitations.37- Spawn one subagent to map the paper's problem statement, contribution, method, experiments, and limitations.
32- Spawn one subagent to gather prerequisite context and explain the background terms I need.38- Spawn one subagent to gather prerequisite context and explain the background terms I need.
33- Spawn one subagent to inspect the figures, tables, notation, and any claims that need careful verification.39- Spawn one subagent to inspect the figures, tables, notation, and any claims that need careful verification.
40- Wait for all subagents, reconcile disagreements, and avoid overclaiming beyond the source material.
41 Final output:
42 - create `notes/[concept-name]-report.md`
43- include an executive summary, glossary, paper walkthrough, concept map, method diagram, evidence table, caveats, and open questions
44 - use Markdown-native Mermaid diagrams where diagrams help
45- use imagegen to generate illustrative, non-exact visual assets when a Markdown-native diagram is not enough
46 - cite paper sections, pages, figures, or tables whenever possible
47 Constraints:
48 - do not treat the paper as ground truth if the evidence is weak
49 - separate what the paper claims from your interpretation
50 - call out missing background, assumptions, and follow-up reading
51
52 I want to learn a new concept from this research paper: [paper path or URL].
53 Please run this as a subagent workflow:
54- Spawn one subagent to map the paper's problem statement, contribution, method, experiments, and limitations.
55- Spawn one subagent to gather prerequisite context and explain the background terms I need.
56- Spawn one subagent to inspect the figures, tables, notation, and any claims that need careful verification.
34- Wait for all subagents, reconcile disagreements, and avoid overclaiming beyond the source material.57- Wait for all subagents, reconcile disagreements, and avoid overclaiming beyond the source material.
35 Final output:58 Final output:
36 - create `notes/[concept-name]-report.md`59 - create `notes/[concept-name]-report.md`