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
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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
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25 Generate illustrative, non-exact visual assets when a Markdown-native diagram is not enough.53 Generate illustrative, non-exact visual assets when a Markdown-native diagram is not enough.
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55| Skill | Why use it |
56| --- | --- |
57| [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. |
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27## Starter prompt59## Starter prompt
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29 I want to learn a new concept from this research paper: [paper path or URL].61 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.63- 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.64- 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.65- Spawn one subagent to inspect the figures, tables, notation, and any claims that need careful verification.
66- Wait for all subagents, reconcile disagreements, and avoid overclaiming beyond the source material.
67 Final output:
68 - create `notes/[concept-name]-report.md`
69- include an executive summary, glossary, paper walkthrough, concept map, method diagram, evidence table, caveats, and open questions
70 - use Markdown-native Mermaid diagrams where diagrams help
71- use imagegen to generate illustrative, non-exact visual assets when a Markdown-native diagram is not enough
72 - cite paper sections, pages, figures, or tables whenever possible
73 Constraints:
74 - do not treat the paper as ground truth if the evidence is weak
75 - separate what the paper claims from your interpretation
76 - call out missing background, assumptions, and follow-up reading
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78 I want to learn a new concept from this research paper: [paper path or URL].
79 Please run this as a subagent workflow:
80- Spawn one subagent to map the paper's problem statement, contribution, method, experiments, and limitations.
81- Spawn one subagent to gather prerequisite context and explain the background terms I need.
82- 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.83- Wait for all subagents, reconcile disagreements, and avoid overclaiming beyond the source material.
35 Final output:84 Final output:
36 - create `notes/[concept-name]-report.md`85 - create `notes/[concept-name]-report.md`