Reading Research Papers in the Age of LLMs

The overwhelming volume of new AI research papers requires efficient strategies that blend traditional reading with modern technology. A classic manual approach is the "three-pass method," which involves progressively deeper readings to understand a paper's context, contribution, and details. Large Language Models can accelerate this process, especially when given structured prompts to analyze a paper's problem, main idea, and evidence. Specialized tools like alphaXiv, Papiers, and Lumi further streamline reading by integrating AI chat, social media context, and even image explanations directly alongside the paper's text.