use-cases/learn-a-new-concept.md Codex Docs, 2026-04-29 00:50 UTC → 2026-05-18 22:01 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

28 17starterPrompt:

29[← All use cases](https://developers.openai.com/codex/use-cases)18 title: Analyze a Research Paper and Teach Me the Concept

30 19 body: >-

31Copy page [Export as PDF](https://developers.openai.com/codex/use-cases/learn-a-new-concept/?export=pdf)20 I want to learn a new concept from this research paper: [paper path or URL].

32 21 

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.

34 22 

35Intermediate23 Please run this as a subagent workflow:

36 24 

3730m25 - Spawn one subagent to map the paper's problem statement, contribution,

26 method, experiments, and limitations.

38 27 

39Related links28 - Spawn one subagent to gather prerequisite context and explain the

29 background terms I need.

40 30 

41[Subagents](https://developers.openai.com/codex/subagents) [Subagent concepts](https://developers.openai.com/codex/concepts/subagents)31 - Spawn one subagent to inspect the figures, tables, notation, and any

32 claims that need careful verification.

42 33 

43## Best for34 - Wait for all subagents, reconcile disagreements, and avoid overclaiming

35 beyond the source material.

44 36 

45 - Individuals learning about an unfamiliar concept

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 37 

49## Skills & Plugins38 Final output:

50 39 

51- [ImageGen](https://github.com/openai/skills/tree/main/skills/.curated/imagegen)40 - create `notes/[concept-name]-report.md`

52 41 

53 Generate illustrative, non-exact visual assets when a Markdown-native diagram is not enough.42 - include an executive summary, glossary, paper walkthrough, concept map,

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

54 44 

55| Skill | Why use it |45 - use Markdown-native Mermaid diagrams where diagrams help

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 46 

59## Starter prompt47 - use imagegen to generate illustrative, non-exact visual assets when a

48 Markdown-native diagram is not enough

60 49 

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 possible50 - 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

77 51 

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 52 

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:53 Constraints:

54 

93 - 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 

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

58 

95 - 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---

96 66 

97## Introduction67## Introduction

98 68 

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

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

165 135 

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 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.

167 137 

168## Write the Markdown report138## Write the Markdown report

169 139 

196 166 

197Example prompt:167Example prompt:

198 168 

199Generate a script that reproduces a simple example from this paper.

200The script should be self-contained and runnable with minimal dependencies.

201There should be a clear output I can review, such as a csv, plot, or other artifact.

202If there are code examples in the paper, use them as reference to write the script.

203 

204## Skills to consider169## Skills to consider

205 170 

206Use skills only when they match the artifact you want:171Use skills only when they match the artifact you want:

215 180 

216**Create the Report Outline First**181**Create the Report Outline First**

217 182 

218Before writing the full report, inspect [paper path] and propose the report outline.

219Include:

220- the core concept the paper is trying to explain

221- which sections or figures are most important

222- which background terms need definitions

223- which diagrams would help

224- which subagent tasks you would spawn before drafting

225Stop after the outline and wait for confirmation before creating files.

226 

227**Build Diagrams for the Concept**183**Build Diagrams for the Concept**

228 184 

229Read `notes/[concept-name]-report.md` and add diagrams that make the concept easier to understand.

230Use 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.

231Add:

232- one concept map for prerequisites and related ideas

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

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

235Keep the diagrams faithful to the report. Do not add unverified claims.

236 

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

238 

239Use `notes/[concept-name]-report.md` to create a study plan for the next two reading sessions.

240Include:

241- what I should understand first

242- which paper sections to reread

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

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

245- follow-up readings and questions to resolve

246Update the report with a short "Next study loop" section.

247 

248## Related use cases

249 

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

251 

252### Coordinate new-hire onboarding

253 

254Use Codex to gather approved new-hire context, stage tracker updates, draft team-by-team...

255 

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

257 

258### Query tabular data

259 

260Use Codex with a CSV, spreadsheet, dashboard export, Google Sheet, or local data file to...

261 

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

263 

264### Turn feedback into actions

265 

266Connect Codex to multiple data sources such as Slack, GitHub, Linear, or Google Drive to...

267 

268Data Integrations](https://developers.openai.com/codex/use-cases/feedback-synthesis)