How should you handle a situation where DeepResearch's cited sources are behind paywalls or otherwise inaccessible to you?

When you encounter paywalled or inaccessible sources cited by DeepResearch, start by exploring alternative access methods. Many academic papers are available through institutional subscriptions, open-access repositories, or preprint servers. For example, if you’re affiliated with a university or company, check whether your organization provides access to platforms like IEEE Xplore, Springer, or JSTOR. Tools like the Unpaywall browser extension or Google Scholar’s “All Versions” feature can often locate free copies of papers hosted on institutional websites or preprint servers like arXiv. If these options fail, consider reaching out directly to the paper’s authors via email or platforms like ResearchGate—many researchers are willing to share their work when asked politely. Developers can also automate parts of this process: scripting a search across multiple repositories using APIs (e.g., arXiv’s API) or building a tool to check for open-access versions programmatically.

If the source remains inaccessible, pivot to alternative materials that address the same topic. For instance, if a paywalled paper describes a machine learning technique, look for open-access papers, conference slides, or GitHub repositories that implement or explain the method. Platforms like Papers With Code often link code implementations to research papers, providing practical insights even when the original paper is unavailable. Similarly, textbooks or technical blogs (e.g., Distill.pub) might cover the foundational concepts. For example, if a cited study on transformer architectures is inaccessible, you could reference the original “Attention Is All You Need” paper (which is openly available) or reputable tutorials that break down the mechanics. Always verify that alternative sources are credible and align with the original work’s claims to avoid misrepresentation.

Finally, document the limitation transparently. If you’re using DeepResearch’s findings in a report or application, note which sources were inaccessible and describe the steps taken to validate the information indirectly. For example, you might write: “Source [X] was cited for its analysis of GPU optimization, but it is paywalled. We corroborated the findings using [Y open-access paper] and [Z conference talk].” This approach maintains accountability while allowing work to proceed. Developers can integrate this documentation into automated workflows—for instance, adding metadata flags to citations in a database or generating a report of inaccessible sources for later review. If the missing source is critical, consider delaying the task until access is secured or collaborating with peers who might have institutional access. Transparency and adaptability are key when working with incomplete information.