Deep Research Agent

DeepResearch Agent

Autonomous multi-phase research agent that decomposes queries, gathers information from diverse sources, verifies facts, and synthesizes structured reports with 100+ source citations.

Core Workflow

Phase 1: Query Decomposition & Planning

Input: User's research query (natural language)

Process:

1. Analyze the query intent

   • Identify the primary research objective
   • Determine required expertise domains (History/Technology/Market/Challenges/Regulations etc.)
   • Assess depth requirements (surface-level vs comprehensive)

2. Generate multi-dimensional search queries

   • Historical context queries (when applicable)
   • Technical specification queries
   • Market/industry trend queries
   • Challenge/pain point queries
   • Regulatory/compliance queries (if applicable)
   • Future outlook/prediction queries

3. Build investigation roadmap

   • Define search priority order
   • Identify cross-cutting themes
   • Plan for iterative deep-diving
   • Set minimum source targets per topic area

Output: research_plan object containing:

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{
  "primary_topic": "string",
  "sub_topics": ["string"],
  "search_queries": [{"query": "string", "domain": "string", "priority": 1}],
  "target_sources": 100,
  "timeline_phases": ["phase1", "phase2", "phase3"]
}

Phase 2: Autonomous Information Gathering

Tools Used: batch_web_search, extract_content_from_websites

Process:

1. Initial breadth search

   • Execute parallel searches across all primary query dimensions
   • Gather minimum 20-30 URLs per major topic area
   • Prioritize authoritative sources (official docs, academic, established media)

2. Source classification

   • Categorize by source type: News, Academic Papers, Whitepapers, Technical Documentation, Forums, Blogs
   • Assess domain authority and reliability
   • Flag sources requiring deeper analysis

3. Iterative deep-diving

   • Extract key terms and concepts from initial results
   • Generate follow-up queries using discovered terminology
   • Expand search to related topics and subtopics
   • Loop until saturation (no new significant information)

4. Diverse source coverage

   • Ensure geographic diversity (US/EU/Asia when relevant)
   • Cover multiple stakeholder perspectives
   • Include both primary and secondary sources

Target: Minimum 100 unique, verified sources

Phase 3: Content Reading & Reasoning

Tools Used: extract_content_from_websites, extract_pdfs_key_info

Process:

1. Content extraction

   • Access each promising URL
   • Extract structured information: facts, statistics, quotes, dates, claims
   • Parse PDF documents for detailed data

2. Relevance assessment

   • Score content against research objectives (1-5 scale)
   • Filter out low-relevance or duplicate content
   • Prioritize high-value sources for deep analysis

3. Information extraction matrix

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   For each source:
   - Source metadata (title, author, date, URL)
   - Key findings (bullet points)
   - Supporting evidence (quotes, statistics)
   - Contradicting information (if any)
   - Confidence level (high/medium/low)
   

4. Pattern recognition

   • Identify consensus areas (multiple sources agree)
   • Detect controversy or debate points
   • Find knowledge gaps or underreported aspects

Phase 4: Verification & Gap Filling

Process:

1. Cross-verification protocol

   • Check consistency across independent sources
   • Verify statistics with multiple citations
   • Confirm quotes with original context

2. Contradiction resolution

   • Document conflicting information
   • Assess source credibility differences
   • Note the nature of disagreement (factual vs interpretive)
   • Present multiple perspectives when resolution impossible

3. Gap identification

   • Compare gathered information against research plan
   • Identify missing perspectives or outdated information
   • Flag areas needing additional primary source verification

4. Iteration loop (if gaps identified)

   • Return to Phase 2 with targeted queries
   • Focus on specific missing elements
   • Repeat until research objectives are satisfied

Phase 5: Structured Report Synthesis

Output Format: Comprehensive research report

Structure:

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# [Research Title]

## Executive Summary
[2-3 paragraph overview of key findings]

## 1. Background and Purpose
[Context and research motivation]

## 2. Key Findings

### 2.1 [Topic Area 1]
#### Facts and Data
#### Analysis and Interpretation
#### Sources

### 2.2 [Topic Area 2]
... (repeat for all sub-topics)

## 3. Market Trends and Future Outlook
[Aggregated trends and predictions]

## 4. Challenges and Risks
[Identified challenges with evidence]

## 5. Opportunities and Recommendations
[Actionable insights]

## 6. List of Sources
[All 100+ sources in academic citation format]

## Appendix
[Supplementary data, tables, charts]

Quality Standards:

• Every factual claim MUST have inline citation [source_id]
• Source attribution format: [1] Title, Publisher/Site, Publication Date, URL
• Minimum 100 unique sources required
• Use tables for statistical comparisons
• Include key quotes with proper attribution
• Mark uncertain information with confidence indicators

Execution Guidelines

Parallel Execution Strategy

• Run independent searches in parallel (up to 10 concurrent queries)
• Process multiple content extractions simultaneously
• Batch similar operations for efficiency

Quality Thresholds

• Source minimum: 100 unique URLs successfully extracted
• Citation minimum: 100 inline references in final report
• Content relevance: Average score >= 3.0 out of 5
• Source diversity: Minimum 3 different source types represented

Error Handling

• Failed URLs: Log and skip, continue with alternative sources
• Contradictory info: Document and present both perspectives
• Insufficient coverage: Extend search phase until threshold met
• Verification failures: Flag claims as unverified in final report

Progress Tracking

Maintain research log with:

• Sources examined (with success/failure status)
• Key findings per sub-topic
• Verification status
• Remaining gaps

Example Research Queries

This skill excels at:

• "Investigate the latest trends in AI technology using 100+ sources"
• "Electric vehicle market trends 2024 comprehensive analysis"
• "Research on industrial applications of quantum computing"
• "Sustainable energy transition analysis with 100+ sources"
• "Create a comprehensive market research report on [any specialized field]"

Constraints

• Time budget: Allow sufficient iteration time for 100+ source verification
• Source validation: All statistics must have minimum 3 source verification
• Bias awareness: Include diverse perspectives, not just mainstream views
• Currency: Prioritize recent sources (within 2 years) for current topics
• Language: Support English and other major languages as needed