PaperQA FAQs

Question 1

Does PaperQA use external AI models?

Accepted Answer

Yes, PaperQA utilizes OpenAI's models for generating document embeddings and internal reasoning/summarization. You can customize the internal LLM models (e.g., gpt-4o, gpt-4o-mini) that PaperQA uses, separate from Claude's own LLM.

Question 2

Is an internet connection required for PaperQA?

Accepted Answer

Yes, PaperQA requires an active internet connection for interacting with OpenAI's API to generate embeddings and perform internal LLM reasoning and summarization tasks.

Question 3

Which types of PDF libraries can PaperQA work with?

Accepted Answer

PaperQA seamlessly integrates with your Zotero storage folders and supports any custom directory containing your PDF files, making it flexible for various research setups.

Question 4

What is PaperQA and what does it do?

Accepted Answer

PaperQA is a tool that allows AI assistants, particularly Claude Desktop, to deeply read, search, and synthesize information across your entire PDF library. It empowers AI to answer complex questions by extracting and cross-referencing data from your documents.

Question 5

How do I connect PaperQA with Claude Desktop?

Accepted Answer

You integrate PaperQA as an MCP server within Claude Desktop's developer settings. This involves configuring a command and providing your OpenAI API key. An initial index build of your PDF library is required for optimal performance.

PaperQA

PaperQA

Key Features

Use Cases

Key Features

Use Cases