use-cases/learn-a-new-concept.md Codex Docs, 2026-04-16 00:46 UTC → 2026-05-01 18:29 UTC

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49## Skills & Plugins49## Skills & Plugins

50 50 

51- [ImageGen](https://github.com/openai/skills/tree/main/skills/.curated/imagegen)51- ImageGen

52 52 

53 Generate illustrative, non-exact visual assets when a Markdown-native diagram is not enough.53 Generate illustrative, non-exact visual assets when a Mermaid diagram is not enough.

54 54 

55| Skill | Why use it |55| Skill | Why use it |

56| --- | --- |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. |57| ImageGen | Generate illustrative, non-exact visual assets when a Mermaid diagram is not enough. |

58 58 

59## Starter prompt59## Starter prompt

60 60 

75 - separate what the paper claims from your interpretation75 - separate what the paper claims from your interpretation

76 - call out missing background, assumptions, and follow-up reading76 - call out missing background, assumptions, and follow-up reading

77 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")

79 

78 I want to learn a new concept from this research paper: [paper path or URL].80 I want to learn a new concept from this research paper: [paper path or URL].

79 Please run this as a subagent workflow:81 Please run this as a subagent workflow:

80- Spawn one subagent to map the paper's problem statement, contribution, method, experiments, and limitations.82- Spawn one subagent to map the paper's problem statement, contribution, method, experiments, and limitations.

161- An experiment map that connects datasets, metrics, baselines, and reported claims.163- An experiment map that connects datasets, metrics, baselines, and reported claims.

162- A limitations diagram that separates assumptions, failure modes, and open questions.164- A limitations diagram that separates assumptions, failure modes, and open questions.

163 165 

164For 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.166For 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.

165 167 

166## Write the Markdown report168## Write the Markdown report

167 169 

251 253 

252Use 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...

253 255 

254Integrations Data](https://developers.openai.com/codex/use-cases/new-hire-onboarding)[![](/images/codex/codex-wallpaper-3.webp)256Integrations Data](https://developers.openai.com/codex/use-cases/new-hire-onboarding)[![](/images/codex/codex-wallpaper-1.webp)

255 257 

256### Generate slide decks258### Query tabular data

257 259 

258Use Codex to update existing presentations or build new decks by editing slides directly...260Use Codex with a CSV, spreadsheet, dashboard export, Google Sheet, or local data file to...

259 261 

260Data Integrations](https://developers.openai.com/codex/use-cases/generate-slide-decks)[![](/images/codex/codex-wallpaper-2.webp)262Data Knowledge Work](https://developers.openai.com/codex/use-cases/analyze-data-export)[![](/images/codex/codex-wallpaper-3.webp)

261 263 

262### Analyze datasets and ship reports264### Turn feedback into actions

263 265 

264Use Codex to clean data, join sources, explore hypotheses, model results, and package the...266Connect Codex to multiple data sources such as Slack, GitHub, Linear, or Google Drive to...

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266Data Analysis](https://developers.openai.com/codex/use-cases/datasets-and-reports)268Data Integrations](https://developers.openai.com/codex/use-cases/feedback-synthesis)