How use CrewAI to write a research paper

CrewAI can be a powerful tool for writing a research paper by automating tasks and improving efficiency. ¹ Here’s how to use it:  

1. Installation and Setup

• Install CrewAI: Use pip to install the CrewAI package:

Bash

pip install crewai

• Set up your project: Create a new directory for your project and create the necessary files: agents.yaml, tools.yaml, and tasks.yaml.

2. Define Agents

• Identify roles: Determine the different roles needed for your research paper writing process, such as:
  • Researcher: Gathers information and data.  
  • Writer: Drafts the paper’s sections.  
  • Editor: Proofreads and refines the text.  
• Create agents in agents.yaml: Define each agent with its role and the model it will use (e.g., GPT-4, Llama 2).  

YAML

researcher:
  description: Gathers relevant information and data for the research paper.
  model: gpt-4

writer:
  description: Writes coherent and informative sections for the research paper.
  model: gpt-4

editor:
  description: Proofreads and edits the research paper for clarity and accuracy.
  model: gpt-4

3. Define Tools

• Choose relevant tools: Select tools that can assist your agents, such as:
  • Search: For finding relevant papers and articles (e.g., Google Search, Semantic Scholar).  
  • Summarization: For condensing research findings.  
  • Citation generation: For creating bibliographies.
• Configure tools in tools.yaml: Specify the tools and their parameters.  

YAML

google_search:
  description: A tool for searching the web.
  class: crewai_tools.google_search.GoogleSearchTool
  params:
    api_key: YOUR_API_KEY

summarization:
  description: A tool for summarizing text.
  class: crewai_tools.summarization.SummarizationTool
  params:
    model: facebook/bart-large-cnn

4. Define Tasks

• Outline the workflow: Break down the research paper writing process into a series of tasks.
  • Research: Gather relevant information on the topic.  
  • Outline: Create a structured outline for the paper.
  • Drafting: Write different sections of the paper.
  • Editing: Review and revise the written content.  
• Describe tasks in tasks.yaml: Define each task with its objective, expected output, and the assigned agent.  

YAML

research_task:
  description: Conduct research on the given topic.
  expected_output: A comprehensive summary of relevant information.
  agent: researcher

outline_task:
  description: Create a detailed outline for the research paper.
  expected_output: A structured outline with headings and subheadings.
  agent: writer

drafting_task:
  description: Write a draft of the research paper based on the outline.
  expected_output: A complete draft of the research paper.
  agent: writer

editing_task:
  description: Proofread and edit the research paper.
  expected_output: A polished and error-free research paper.
  agent: editor

5. Execute and Iterate

• Run CrewAI: Execute your CrewAI project to initiate the workflow.  

Bash

crewai run

• Monitor progress: Observe the agents as they complete their tasks.  
• Refine and adjust: Modify your agents, tools, or tasks based on the initial results to improve the output.  

Example: Research Task

YAML

research_task:
  description: >
    Conduct thorough research on {topic}.
    Make sure you find any interesting and relevant information given the current year is 2024.
  expected_output: >
    A list with 10 bullet points of the most relevant information about {topic}
  agent: researcher

Key Considerations

• Clear instructions: Provide specific and detailed instructions for each task to guide the agents effectively.  
• Iterative process: Writing a research paper is iterative. Expect to revise and refine your CrewAI setup as you progress.  
• Human oversight: While CrewAI automates tasks, human review and feedback are crucial for a high-quality research paper.

By effectively using CrewAI, you can streamline your research paper writing process, improve efficiency, and focus on higher-level tasks like analysis and interpretation.