use-cases/learn-a-new-concept.md Codex Docs, 2026-04-16 00:46 UTC → 2026-05-07 20:02 UTC

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

2 2name: Learn a new concept

3Codex use cases3tagline: Turn dense source material into a clear, reviewable learning report.

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

5![](/assets/OpenAI-black-wordmark.svg)5 the reading across subagents, gather context, and produce a Markdown report

6 6 with diagrams.

7![Codex](/assets/OAI_Codex-Lockup_Fallback_Black.svg)7skills:

8 8 - token: $imagegen

9Codex use case9 description: Generate illustrative, non-exact visual assets when a Mermaid

10 10 diagram is not enough.

11# Learn a new concept11bestFor:

12 

13Turn dense source material into a clear, reviewable learning report.

14 

15Difficulty **Intermediate**

16 

17Time horizon **30m**

18 

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.

20 

21## Best for

22 

23 - Individuals learning about an unfamiliar concept12 - Individuals learning about an unfamiliar concept

24- Dense source material that benefits from parallel reading, context gathering, diagrams, and a written synthesis13 - Dense source material that benefits from parallel reading, context

25- Turning a one-off reading session into a reusable Markdown report with citations, glossary terms14 gathering, diagrams, and a written synthesis

26 15 - Turning a one-off reading session into a reusable Markdown report with

27# Contents16 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].

28 21 

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

30 22 

31Copy 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:

32 24 

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

26 method, experiments, and limitations.

34 27 

35Intermediate28 - Spawn one subagent to gather prerequisite context and explain the

29 background terms I need.

36 30 

3730m31 - Spawn one subagent to inspect the figures, tables, notation, and any

32 claims that need careful verification.

38 33 

39Related links34 - Wait for all subagents, reconcile disagreements, and avoid overclaiming

35 beyond the source material.

40 36 

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

42 37 

43## Best for38 Final output:

44 39 

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

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

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

48 41 

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

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

50 44 

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

52 46 

53 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

54 49 

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

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. |

58 51 

59## Starter prompt

60 52 

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

62 Please run this as a subagent workflow:

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

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

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:53 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

77 54 

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.

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

84 Final output:

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

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

87 - use Markdown-native Mermaid diagrams where diagrams help

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

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

90 Constraints:

91 - 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 

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

58 

93 - 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---

94 66 

95## Introduction67## Introduction

96 68 

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

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

163 135 

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.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.

165 137 

166## Write the Markdown report138## Write the Markdown report

167 139 

194 166 

195Example prompt:167Example prompt:

196 168 

197Generate a script that reproduces a simple example from this paper.

198The script should be self-contained and runnable with minimal dependencies.

199There should be a clear output I can review, such as a csv, plot, or other artifact.

200If there are code examples in the paper, use them as reference to write the script.

201 

202## Skills to consider169## Skills to consider

203 170 

204Use skills only when they match the artifact you want:171Use skills only when they match the artifact you want:

213 180 

214**Create the Report Outline First**181**Create the Report Outline First**

215 182 

216Before writing the full report, inspect [paper path] and propose the report outline.

217Include:

218- the core concept the paper is trying to explain

219- which sections or figures are most important

220- which background terms need definitions

221- which diagrams would help

222- which subagent tasks you would spawn before drafting

223Stop after the outline and wait for confirmation before creating files.

224 

225**Build Diagrams for the Concept**183**Build Diagrams for the Concept**

226 184 

227Read `notes/[concept-name]-report.md` and add diagrams that make the concept easier to understand.

228Use 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.

229Add:

230- one concept map for prerequisites and related ideas

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

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

233Keep the diagrams faithful to the report. Do not add unverified claims.

234 

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

236 

237Use `notes/[concept-name]-report.md` to create a study plan for the next two reading sessions.

238Include:

239- what I should understand first

240- which paper sections to reread

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

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

243- follow-up readings and questions to resolve

244Update the report with a short "Next study loop" section.

245 

246## Related use cases

247 

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

249 

250### Coordinate new-hire onboarding

251 

252Use Codex to gather approved new-hire context, stage tracker updates, draft team-by-team...

253 

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

255 

256### Generate slide decks

257 

258Use Codex to update existing presentations or build new decks by editing slides directly...

259 

260Data Integrations](https://developers.openai.com/codex/use-cases/generate-slide-decks)[![](/images/codex/codex-wallpaper-2.webp)

261 

262### Analyze datasets and ship reports

263 

264Use Codex to clean data, join sources, explore hypotheses, model results, and package the...

265 

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