Guide · Agent skill
How to use the Deep Research Reports agent skill
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
The deep-research skill is a set of instructions that tells an AI agent to research a question in depth and hand back a complete Word document with cited sources, instead of a short chat reply. This guide explains what agent skills are, how to install this one, how to ask for a report in natural language, and what to check before you rely on the output. By the end you will be able to run a cross-checked research report and know its limits.
Deep Research Reportsgenspark-ai/genoffice · Apache-2.0 Download the skill Quick start
- 1Download the ZIP. Download the deep-research skill ZIP from this page.
- 2Unzip into a skills folder. Unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use, or into a project's .claude/skills/ folder.
- 3Or upload in the Claude apps. In the Claude apps, go to Settings → Capabilities → Skills and upload the ZIP.
- 4Confirm requirements. Make sure the agent has a web search tool and tools that can create Word (.docx) files.
- 5Ask for a report. Make a natural request for research with sources, such as a competitor comparison or a fact check.
- 6Review the references. Open the Word document, check the numbered reference list and the risks section before sharing it.
What is an agent skill and what does deep-research make the agent do?
An agent skill is a folder containing a SKILL.md file, which gives an AI agent specific instructions for a task. Once installed, the agent can load these instructions when a request matches the skill.
With deep-research installed, the agent stops giving quick one-paragraph answers to research questions. It splits your question into 3-6 sub-questions, such as current state, players, data, trends and controversies. For each one it runs several searches using at least two different sets of keywords, and it treats a number, date or entity name as reliable only when at least two independent sources agree. Where sources conflict, the report says so.
- Executive summary with at most 5 hard conclusions
- One section per sub-question, conclusion first, then evidence and data
- A risks and uncertainties section
- A references list where every URL is listed and key claims carry a source number
- Claims that cannot be found are marked "could not be verified"
Install the deep-research skill
Download the skill ZIP from this page. Then choose one of the two install routes below.
For a personal install across projects, unzip the file into ~/.claude/skills/. For a single project, unzip it into that project's .claude/skills/ folder. The skill folder should contain SKILL.md.
In the Claude apps, you can instead upload the ZIP under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
- Personal: ~/.claude/skills/
- Single project: .claude/skills/ inside the project folder
- Claude apps: Settings → Capabilities → Skills, then upload the ZIP
Check the requirements before you start
The skill needs two capabilities from the agent environment. It needs a web search tool, so the agent can search the web. It also needs document tools that can create Word (.docx) files, because the output is a Word document.
The skill does not run scripts. It does use the network, since its work is web search.
- A web search tool available to the agent
- Document tools capable of creating Word (.docx) files
- Runs scripts: no
- Uses network: yes
How do you trigger the skill with a natural request?
You do not need a special command. Ask for a research report in plain language, and say that you want sources or a document. The skill's description covers multi-round searches, cross-checked research, cited sources and Word delivery, so requests that match those ideas are the ones it is suited for.
The skill's quick prompts suggest two starting points: asking for a comparison report of the leading products in a space, and asking the agent to verify the key figures in a piece of material.
- "Research the leading products in this space and produce a comparison report."
- "Verify the key figures in this material."
- "Give me a cited Word report on the competitors in this market."
- "Check whether these statistics hold up across several sources."
Safety notes and limits
Because the skill uses web search, the report depends on what the search tool can reach. Paywalled, private or very recent data may be missing, and the sources may be incomplete. In those cases the report may mark claims as could not be verified.
The skill produces research summaries, not professional judgement. Do not treat its output as legal, medical or financial advice. Review the reference list yourself before sharing the report, since you are responsible for checking the cited sources.
- Paywalled, private or very recent data may not be reachable
- Claims may be marked could not be verified
- Not a substitute for expert review in legal, medical or financial matters
- Check the reference list before relying on the report
Tips for better reports
Be specific about the goal. A narrow question with a clear market, company set or claim to check gives the agent a better split into sub-questions than a broad topic.
Use the skill for questions where sources matter. For a quick factual lookup, the multi-round process is slow and produces a full document, which is more than a simple answer needs.
- Name the market, companies or claims you want covered
- Say whether you need a comparison, an overview or a fact check
- Ask for a quick answer instead when you only need one fact
What people use it for
- Competitor research: a comparison report of the leading products in a space, with sources.
- Industry analysis: an overview of current state, players, data and trends in a market.
- Fact checking: verifying key figures in a piece of material against several sources.
- Student or writer work: checking claims against multiple independent sources.
Frequently asked questions
How do I install the deep-research agent skill?
Download the skill ZIP from this page and unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use, or into a project's .claude/skills/ folder. In the Claude apps, you can upload the ZIP under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
What does the deep-research skill require?
It requires a web search tool available to the agent and document tools capable of creating Word (.docx) files. It does not run scripts, but it does use the network.
Is the deep-research skill free?
The source material does not state pricing or licence terms beyond the Apache-2.0 licence listed for the skill, so check that licence for the terms that apply to you.
Is deep-research better than a normal chat answer?
It is designed for different jobs. The skill runs multiple search rounds, cross-checks figures across independent sources and produces a structured Word report with references. For a simple factual question, a normal chat answer is faster.
Why does the report say a claim could not be verified?
The skill writes "could not be verified" when it cannot find enough support, rather than inventing a source. This often happens with paywalled, private or very recent data that web search cannot reach.
What should I do if the report is missing sources or looks incomplete?
Check whether your question involves paywalled, private or very recent data. Narrow the question to a specific market, company set or claim, and review the references list yourself before relying on the output.
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Our verdict
Use deep-research if you need a shareable, cited report on a market, competitor set or set of figures, and you have a web search tool and Word-capable document tools available. Pick something else for quick factual answers, paywalled or private data, or legal, medical or financial advice that needs expert review.
Download the skill