Building an AI-Powered Paper Reading Tool
Why I Built This
As a graduate student, I read dozens of papers every week. The process is often tedious - dense text, unfamiliar jargon, and complex methodologies that take hours to unpack.
I wanted a tool that could read with me, not just summarize for me. Something that guides me through a paper paragraph by paragraph, explains the hard parts, and answers my questions in context.
The Three Reading Modes
1. Paragraph-by-Paragraph Dialogue
The AI presents each section, pauses for your questions, and only continues when you're ready. This is perfect for deep, careful reading.
2. Auto-Scroll with Commentary
For faster skimming, the AI scrolls through the paper while generating real-time commentary. You can pause anytime to ask questions.
3. Chapter Summaries
After each chapter, the AI generates a summary and key questions for deeper exploration.
Tech Stack
- Frontend: React + TypeScript + TailwindCSS
- Backend: Python FastAPI
- Database: PostgreSQL + ChromaDB (vector search)
- AI: OpenAI GPT-5.5
- CLI: Python Typer (for agent integration)
What's Next
I'm currently integrating Feishu knowledge base support, so your paper notes can sync with your research wiki automatically. Stay tuned!
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