use-cases/learn-a-new-concept.md Codex Docs, 2026-04-15 06:44 UTC → 2026-05-07 17:08 UTC

1# Learn a new concept | Codex use cases1---

2name: Learn a new concept

3tagline: Turn dense source material into a clear, reviewable learning report.

4summary: Use Codex to study material such as research papers or courses, split

5 the reading across subagents, gather context, and produce a Markdown report

6 with diagrams.

7skills:

8 - token: $imagegen

9 description: Generate illustrative, non-exact visual assets when a Mermaid

10 diagram is not enough.

11bestFor:

12 - Individuals learning about an unfamiliar concept

13 - Dense source material that benefits from parallel reading, context

14 gathering, diagrams, and a written synthesis

15 - Turning a one-off reading session into a reusable Markdown report with

16 citations, glossary terms

17starterPrompt:

18 title: Analyze a Research Paper and Teach Me the Concept

19 body: >-

20 I want to learn a new concept from this research paper: [paper path or URL].

2 21 

3[← All use cases](https://developers.openai.com/codex/use-cases)

4 22 

5Copy page [Export as PDF](https://developers.openai.com/codex/use-cases/learn-a-new-concept/?export=pdf)23 Please run this as a subagent workflow:

6 24 

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.25 - Spawn one subagent to map the paper's problem statement, contribution,

26 method, experiments, and limitations.

8 27 

9Intermediate28 - Spawn one subagent to gather prerequisite context and explain the

29 background terms I need.

10 30 

1130m31 - Spawn one subagent to inspect the figures, tables, notation, and any

32 claims that need careful verification.

12 33 

13Related links34 - Wait for all subagents, reconcile disagreements, and avoid overclaiming

35 beyond the source material.

14 36 

15[Subagents](https://developers.openai.com/codex/subagents) [Subagent concepts](https://developers.openai.com/codex/concepts/subagents)

16 37 

17## Best for38 Final output:

18 39 

19 - Individuals learning about an unfamiliar concept40 - create `notes/[concept-name]-report.md`

20- Dense source material that benefits from parallel reading, context gathering, diagrams, and a written synthesis

21- Turning a one-off reading session into a reusable Markdown report with citations, glossary terms

22 41 

23## Skills & Plugins42 - include an executive summary, glossary, paper walkthrough, concept map,

43 method diagram, evidence table, caveats, and open questions

24 44 

25- [ImageGen](https://github.com/openai/skills/tree/main/skills/.curated/imagegen)45 - use Markdown-native Mermaid diagrams where diagrams help

26 46 

27 Generate illustrative, non-exact visual assets when a Markdown-native diagram is not enough.47 - use imagegen to generate illustrative, non-exact visual assets when a

48 Markdown-native diagram is not enough

28 49 

29| Skill | Why use it |50 - cite paper sections, pages, figures, or tables whenever possible

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 51 

33## Starter prompt

34 52 

35 I want to learn a new concept from this research paper: [paper path or URL].

36 Please run this as a subagent workflow:

37- Spawn one subagent to map the paper's problem statement, contribution, method, experiments, and limitations.

38- Spawn one subagent to gather prerequisite context and explain the background terms I need.

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:53 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 54 

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.

57- Wait for all subagents, reconcile disagreements, and avoid overclaiming beyond the source material.

58 Final output:

59 - create `notes/[concept-name]-report.md`

60- include an executive summary, glossary, paper walkthrough, concept map, method diagram, evidence table, caveats, and open questions

61 - use Markdown-native Mermaid diagrams where diagrams help

62- use imagegen to generate illustrative, non-exact visual assets when a Markdown-native diagram is not enough

63 - cite paper sections, pages, figures, or tables whenever possible

64 Constraints:

65 - do not treat the paper as ground truth if the evidence is weak55 - do not treat the paper as ground truth if the evidence is weak

56 

66 - separate what the paper claims from your interpretation57 - separate what the paper claims from your interpretation

58 

67 - call out missing background, assumptions, and follow-up reading59 - call out missing background, assumptions, and follow-up reading

60relatedLinks:

61 - label: Subagents

62 url: /codex/subagents

63 - label: Subagent concepts

64 url: /codex/concepts/subagents

65---

68 66 

69## Introduction67## Introduction

70 68 

135- An experiment map that connects datasets, metrics, baselines, and reported claims.133- An experiment map that connects datasets, metrics, baselines, and reported claims.

136- A limitations diagram that separates assumptions, failure modes, and open questions.134- A limitations diagram that separates assumptions, failure modes, and open questions.

137 135 

138For 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.136For 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.

139 137 

140## Write the Markdown report138## Write the Markdown report

141 139 

168 166 

169Example prompt:167Example prompt:

170 168 

171Generate a script that reproduces a simple example from this paper.

172The script should be self-contained and runnable with minimal dependencies.

173There should be a clear output I can review, such as a csv, plot, or other artifact.

174If there are code examples in the paper, use them as reference to write the script.

175 

176## Skills to consider169## Skills to consider

177 170 

178Use skills only when they match the artifact you want:171Use skills only when they match the artifact you want:

187 180 

188**Create the Report Outline First**181**Create the Report Outline First**

189 182 

190Before writing the full report, inspect [paper path] and propose the report outline.

191Include:

192- the core concept the paper is trying to explain

193- which sections or figures are most important

194- which background terms need definitions

195- which diagrams would help

196- which subagent tasks you would spawn before drafting

197Stop after the outline and wait for confirmation before creating files.

198 

199**Build Diagrams for the Concept**183**Build Diagrams for the Concept**

200 184 

201Read `notes/[concept-name]-report.md` and add diagrams that make the concept easier to understand.

202Use Markdown-native Mermaid diagrams when possible. If the report destination cannot render Mermaid, create small checked-in SVG files instead and link them from the report.

203Add:

204- one concept map for prerequisites and related ideas

205- one method flow diagram for inputs, transformations, and outputs

206- one evidence map connecting claims to paper figures, tables, or sections

207Keep the diagrams faithful to the report. Do not add unverified claims.

208 

209**Turn the Report Into a Study Plan**185**Turn the Report Into a Study Plan**

210 

211Use `notes/[concept-name]-report.md` to create a study plan for the next two reading sessions.

212Include:

213- what I should understand first

214- which paper sections to reread

215- which equations, figures, or tables need extra attention

216- one toy example or notebook idea if experimentation would help

217- follow-up readings and questions to resolve

218Update the report with a short "Next study loop" section.

219 

220## Related use cases

221 

222[![](/images/codex/codex-wallpaper-2.webp)

223 

224### Coordinate new-hire onboarding

225 

226Use Codex to gather approved new-hire context, stage tracker updates, draft team-by-team...

227 

228Integrations Data](https://developers.openai.com/codex/use-cases/new-hire-onboarding)[![](/images/codex/codex-wallpaper-3.webp)

229 

230### Generate slide decks

231 

232Use Codex to update existing presentations or build new decks by editing slides directly...

233 

234Data Integrations](https://developers.openai.com/codex/use-cases/generate-slide-decks)[![](/images/codex/codex-wallpaper-2.webp)

235 

236### Analyze datasets and ship reports

237 

238Use Codex to clean data, join sources, explore hypotheses, model results, and package the...

239 

240Data Analysis](https://developers.openai.com/codex/use-cases/datasets-and-reports)