What is AI Research Flow Explorer?
Last updated: 2026-03-28·1 min read
The Research Flow Explorer agent traces a paper's citation network by
splitting it into upstream (papers it cites) and downstream (papers that cite
it). This reveals the foundational work and subsequent influence, showing how
a study fits within its field.
When should you use the Research Flow Explorer?
Use it when you've found a key paper and want to understand where it came from and where it led. You can see both the prior research that informed it and the subsequent studies it inspired.
What information does it provide?
- Upstream — Papers cited by the selected paper. Shows what foundation the research was built on.
- Downstream — Papers that cite the selected paper. Shows how the research has been developed since.
How is this different from the Literature Review?
The Literature Review agent surveys a topic broadly, while the Research Flow Explorer digs deep into the citation network around a single paper. Use Literature Review for a wide survey, and Research Flow Explorer for deep tracing.