Question 1

What is OpenDraft?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 2

How does the multi-agent system work?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 3

Are the citations verified?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 4

Is OpenDraft free?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 5

How long does it take to generate a paper?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 6

How does OpenDraft compare to ChatGPT for research?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 7

Can I submit OpenDraft papers as my own work?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 8

Does OpenDraft store my data?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 9

What export formats does OpenDraft support?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 10

Is OpenDraft suitable for PhD dissertations?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 11

Why is OpenDraft open source?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 12

What databases does OpenDraft use for citations?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 13

How do I get started with OpenDraft?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 14

Can I use OpenDraft for literature reviews?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 15

Will my paper be flagged as AI-generated?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 16

What AI models does OpenDraft use?

Accepted Answer

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.

AI research-writing guides

How to write a literature review with AI

How to write a thesis chapter with AI

How to write a research proposal with AI

AI research paper writing guide