use-cases/learn-a-new-concept.md +61 −10
1# Learn a new concept | Codex use cases1# Learn a new concept | Codex use cases
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3Codex use cases
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9Codex use case
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11# Learn a new concept
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13Turn dense source material into a clear, reviewable learning report.
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15Difficulty **Intermediate**
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17Time horizon **30m**
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19Use Codex to study material such as research papers or courses, split the reading across subagents, gather context, and produce a Markdown report with diagrams.
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21## Best for
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23 - Individuals learning about an unfamiliar concept
24- Dense source material that benefits from parallel reading, context gathering, diagrams, and a written synthesis
25- Turning a one-off reading session into a reusable Markdown report with citations, glossary terms
26
27# Contents
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3[← All use cases](https://developers.openai.com/codex/use-cases)29[← All use cases](https://developers.openai.com/codex/use-cases)
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31Copy page [Export as PDF](https://developers.openai.com/codex/use-cases/learn-a-new-concept/?export=pdf)
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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.33Use Codex to study material such as research papers or courses, split the reading across subagents, gather context, and produce a Markdown report with diagrams.
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7Intermediate35Intermediate
20 48
21## Skills & Plugins49## Skills & Plugins
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2351- [ImageGen](https://github.com/openai/skills/tree/main/skills/.curated/imagegen)- ImageGen
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53 Generate illustrative, non-exact visual assets when a Mermaid diagram is not enough.
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2555 Generate illustrative, non-exact visual assets when a Markdown-native diagram is not enough.| Skill | Why use it |
56| --- | --- |
57| ImageGen | Generate illustrative, non-exact visual assets when a Mermaid diagram is not enough. |
26 58
27## Starter prompt59## Starter prompt
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43 - separate what the paper claims from your interpretation75 - separate what the paper claims from your interpretation
44 - call out missing background, assumptions, and follow-up reading76 - call out missing background, assumptions, and follow-up reading
45 77
78[Open in the Codex app](codex://new?prompt=I+want+to+learn+a+new+concept+from+this+research+paper%3A+%5Bpaper+path+or+URL%5D.%0A%0APlease+run+this+as+a+subagent+workflow%3A%0A-+Spawn+one+subagent+to+map+the+paper%27s+problem+statement%2C+contribution%2C+method%2C+experiments%2C+and+limitations.%0A-+Spawn+one+subagent+to+gather+prerequisite+context+and+explain+the+background+terms+I+need.%0A-+Spawn+one+subagent+to+inspect+the+figures%2C+tables%2C+notation%2C+and+any+claims+that+need+careful+verification.%0A-+Wait+for+all+subagents%2C+reconcile+disagreements%2C+and+avoid+overclaiming+beyond+the+source+material.%0A%0AFinal+output%3A%0A-+create+%60notes%2F%5Bconcept-name%5D-report.md%60%0A-+include+an+executive+summary%2C+glossary%2C+paper+walkthrough%2C+concept+map%2C+method+diagram%2C+evidence+table%2C+caveats%2C+and+open+questions%0A-+use+Markdown-native+Mermaid+diagrams+where+diagrams+help%0A-+use+imagegen+to+generate+illustrative%2C+non-exact+visual+assets+when+a+Markdown-native+diagram+is+not+enough%0A-+cite+paper+sections%2C+pages%2C+figures%2C+or+tables+whenever+possible%0A%0AConstraints%3A%0A-+do+not+treat+the+paper+as+ground+truth+if+the+evidence+is+weak%0A-+separate+what+the+paper+claims+from+your+interpretation%0A-+call+out+missing+background%2C+assumptions%2C+and+follow-up+reading "Open in the Codex app")
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80 I want to learn a new concept from this research paper: [paper path or URL].
81 Please run this as a subagent workflow:
82- Spawn one subagent to map the paper's problem statement, contribution, method, experiments, and limitations.
83- Spawn one subagent to gather prerequisite context and explain the background terms I need.
84- Spawn one subagent to inspect the figures, tables, notation, and any claims that need careful verification.
85- Wait for all subagents, reconcile disagreements, and avoid overclaiming beyond the source material.
86 Final output:
87 - create `notes/[concept-name]-report.md`
88- include an executive summary, glossary, paper walkthrough, concept map, method diagram, evidence table, caveats, and open questions
89 - use Markdown-native Mermaid diagrams where diagrams help
90- use imagegen to generate illustrative, non-exact visual assets when a Markdown-native diagram is not enough
91 - cite paper sections, pages, figures, or tables whenever possible
92 Constraints:
93 - do not treat the paper as ground truth if the evidence is weak
94 - separate what the paper claims from your interpretation
95 - call out missing background, assumptions, and follow-up reading
96
46## Introduction97## Introduction
47 98
48Learning a new concept from a dense paper or course requires more than just summarization. The goal is to build a working mental model: what problem it addresses, what the method actually does, which evidence supports it, what assumptions it depends on, and which parts you still need to investigate.99Learning a new concept from a dense paper or course requires more than just summarization. The goal is to build a working mental model: what problem it addresses, what the method actually does, which evidence supports it, what assumptions it depends on, and which parts you still need to investigate.
112- An experiment map that connects datasets, metrics, baselines, and reported claims.163- An experiment map that connects datasets, metrics, baselines, and reported claims.
113- A limitations diagram that separates assumptions, failure modes, and open questions.164- A limitations diagram that separates assumptions, failure modes, and open questions.
114 165
115166For Markdown-first reports, ask for Mermaid when the destination supports it, or a small checked-in SVG/PNG asset when it does not. Ask Codex to use imagegen only when you need an illustrative, non-exact visual or something that doesn’t fit in a Markdown-native diagram.For Markdown-first reports, ask for Mermaid when the destination supports it, or a small checked-in SVG/PNG asset when it does not. Ask Codex to use the imagegen system skill, which comes with Codex by default, only when you need an illustrative, non-exact visual or something that doesn't fit in a Markdown-native diagram.
116 167
117## Write the Markdown report168## Write the Markdown report
118 169
202 253
203Use Codex to gather approved new-hire context, stage tracker updates, draft team-by-team...254Use Codex to gather approved new-hire context, stage tracker updates, draft team-by-team...
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205256Integrations Data](https://developers.openai.com/codex/use-cases/new-hire-onboarding)[Integrations Data](https://developers.openai.com/codex/use-cases/new-hire-onboarding)[
206 257
207258### Generate slide decks### Query tabular data
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209260Use Codex to update existing presentations or build new decks by editing slides directly...Use Codex with a CSV, spreadsheet, dashboard export, Google Sheet, or local data file to...
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211262Data Integrations](https://developers.openai.com/codex/use-cases/generate-slide-decks)[Data Knowledge Work](https://developers.openai.com/codex/use-cases/analyze-data-export)[
212 263
213264### Analyze datasets and ship reports### Turn feedback into actions
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215266Use Codex to clean data, join sources, explore hypotheses, model results, and package the...Connect Codex to multiple data sources such as Slack, GitHub, Linear, or Google Drive to...
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217268Data Analysis](https://developers.openai.com/codex/use-cases/datasets-and-reports)Data Integrations](https://developers.openai.com/codex/use-cases/feedback-synthesis)