OpenDraft is an open source AI research draft generator that uses 19 specialized AI agents to create academic paper drafts with verified citations. It searches real academic databases (Semantic Scholar, CrossRef, arXiv) and produces properly formatted papers.

How does the multi-agent system work?

OpenDraft uses 19 specialized AI agents working in sequence: Planner agents break down topics, Scout agents search academic databases, Signal agents evaluate paper relevance, Scribe agents write content, and Architect agents structure and format the output. This separation of concerns ensures each task is handled by a purpose-built agent.

Are the citations verified?

Yes, all citations are verified against real academic databases including Semantic Scholar (200M+ papers), CrossRef, and arXiv. Each source includes DOI links for independent verification. Unlike ChatGPT, OpenDraft cannot hallucinate citations because they come directly from database queries.

Yes, OpenDraft is 100% free and open source under the MIT license. You only pay for AI API usage (OpenAI or Google), which typically costs $2-5 per research draft. There are no subscription fees or usage limits.

How long does it take to generate a paper?

Generation time depends on complexity: research papers take about 10 minutes, bachelor's thesis drafts about 12 minutes, master's thesis drafts about 15 minutes, and PhD dissertation drafts about 20 minutes.

How does OpenDraft compare to ChatGPT for research?

ChatGPT frequently hallucinates academic citations (30-50% of generated citations are fabricated). OpenDraft's architecture makes this impossible because citations come from real database queries, not AI generation. OpenDraft is purpose-built for academic research with verified citations.

Can I submit OpenDraft papers as my own work?

OpenDraft generates drafts to help start your research. The output should be reviewed, fact-checked, edited in your own voice, enhanced with your original analysis, and used according to your institution's AI policy. Always check your university's guidelines on AI-assisted writing.

Does OpenDraft store my data?

No. OpenDraft runs entirely on your computer when self-hosted. Your research topics, generated papers, and API keys are never sent to external servers. You maintain complete control over your data and research.

What export formats does OpenDraft support?

OpenDraft exports to PDF, Word (.docx), and LaTeX formats. All exports include properly formatted citations in your chosen style (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.).

Is OpenDraft suitable for PhD dissertations?

Yes, OpenDraft is designed to handle dissertation-length literature reviews and research drafts. The multi-agent system can process complex topics and generate extensive drafts with comprehensive citations from 200M+ academic papers.

Why is OpenDraft open source?

OpenDraft is open source (MIT license) for transparency, academic integrity, and customization. You can inspect exactly how citations are verified, how agents work, and modify the code for your needs. This matters for academic work where you need to explain your tools.

What databases does OpenDraft use for citations?

OpenDraft searches Semantic Scholar (200M+ papers), CrossRef (130M+ DOIs), and arXiv (2M+ preprints). This covers virtually all peer-reviewed academic literature across all disciplines.

How do I get started with OpenDraft?

Setup takes about 10 minutes: install Docker, clone the repository, add your OpenAI API key, and run the application. Detailed instructions are available in the GitHub repository's Quick Start guide.

Can I use OpenDraft for literature reviews?

Yes, literature reviews are one of OpenDraft's primary use cases. The multi-agent system excels at finding relevant papers, synthesizing findings, and creating comprehensive literature review drafts with verified citations.

Will my paper be flagged as AI-generated?

AI detection tools vary in accuracy. We recommend using OpenDraft as a starting point, then substantially editing the content in your own voice. OpenDraft generates drafts, not finished papers—your editing and original analysis are essential.

What AI models does OpenDraft use?

OpenDraft supports multiple AI providers including OpenAI (GPT-4), Google (Gemini), and Anthropic (Claude). You can choose based on your preference and API access. The multi-agent architecture works across all supported models.

OpenDraft AI

AI-Generated Draft

January 11, 2025

45 min read

Example

Example Draft: How Professional Software Engineers Use Generative AI in Development

This is a thesis-level research draft generated by OpenDraft

Generated in 52.4 minutes with 48+ verified academic citations from ACM, IEEE, and software engineering conferences.

Generation Statistics

52.4

Minutes

48+

Citations

~23K

Words

257KB

PDF Size

Download Draft

Download PDF Download Full Package (ZIP)

Thesis Topic

How do professional software engineers in the industry use Generative AI in their development workflow?

This master's thesis presents qualitative research examining how professional software engineers integrate generative AI tools like GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT, and Claude into their daily development workflows. Through semi-structured interviews with 30 industry practitioners, the research identifies adoption patterns, productivity impacts, and emerging best practices.

Abstract

The rapid adoption of generative AI coding assistants has transformed software development practices across the industry. This thesis investigates how professional software engineers incorporate these tools into their workflows through a qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews with 30 practitioners from diverse organizational contexts.

Our thematic analysis reveals five primary usage patterns: code completion and boilerplate generation, documentation writing, debugging assistance, learning new technologies, and code review support. We identify both productivity gains and emerging concerns around code quality, security vulnerabilities, and skill atrophy.

Key Research Questions

RQ1: What are the primary use cases for generative AI in professional software development?
RQ2: How do developers perceive the impact of AI tools on their productivity?
RQ3: What concerns do developers have about AI-assisted coding?
RQ4: How do organizational factors influence AI tool adoption?

Key Findings

Code completion is the most common use case (93% of participants)
Documentation writing saves significant time for 78% of developers
Security concerns remain top-of-mind for enterprise developers
Junior developers report higher productivity gains but also higher dependency
Code review practices are evolving to account for AI-generated code

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