EssentAI
A desktop literature review assistant designed to help researchers organise articles, surface key information quickly and reduce time lost searching back through papers. It supports structured article review, notes, recommendations, paraphrasing and synthesis across your own library.
What EssentAI does today
EssentAI Builds and Roadmap
Original EssentAI core features:
- Upload and review academic articles
- Extract structured article fields
- Capture summary, research gap, research problem, theory, constructs, methodology and key findings
- Store reviewed articles in a searchable database
- Filter and retrieve articles quickly
- Open and revisit the linked source PDF
- Create and manage research notes
- Use paraphrasing support for writing preparation.
- Generate recommended citations from the user’s own article library.
Build 1.0.0.2 expanded EssentAI with:
- Cross article synthesis
- Comparison across themes, constructs, methods and findings
- Identification of overlap and points of difference across selected articles
- Stronger support for organising literature into usable knowledge
- Better support for notes, citations and writing preparation alongside synthesis
- Review project workspaces – organise articles, notes and insights within structured research projects.
- Search and intake tracking – track search sources, keywords and article selection decisions.
- Screening and exclusion support – apply inclusion criteria and maintain a clear audit trail of decisions.
- Quality appraisal support – evaluate and compare methodological quality across studies.
- Stronger writing integration – connect structured insights directly into your writing workflow.
FAQ
How do I install EssentAI on my Windows computer?
Download the installer zip
DownloadEssentAI_Windows_1.0.0.1.zipand save it to your computer (for example in Downloads).Unblock the downloaded zip (if required)
Right click
EssentAI_Windows_1.0.0.1.zipand select PropertiesIf you see the message
“This file came from another computer and might be blocked to help protect this computer”
tick Unblock and click OK
Extract the installer
Right click
EssentAI_Windows_1.0.0.1.zip→ Extract All…Open the extracted folder
EssentAI_Windows_1.0.0.1
Unblock the installer EXE (if required)
In the extracted folder you will seeEssentAI_Setup_1.0.0.1.exe– the EssentAI installerEssentAI_Setup_1.0.0.1_SHA256.txt– optional checksum file
Do this:
Right click
EssentAI_Setup_1.0.0.1.exe→ PropertiesIf you see the same “This file came from another computer and might be blocked…” message, tick Unblock and click OK
Run the installer
Double clickEssentAI_Setup_1.0.0.1.exeand follow the prompts to install EssentAI.If a Windows SmartScreen warning appears
Click More info
Then click Run anyway
This is normal for a newly released independent desktop application and does not indicate a problem with the software.
Launch EssentAI
Once installed, start EssentAI from your desktop shortcut or from the Start menu.Choose how to get started
On the first launch:EssentAI free trial starts automatically (three uploads included)
Add your OpenAI API key in Setting
How do I install EssentAI on my macOS computer?
Choose the correct download
For Apple silicon (M1, M2, M3) click Download for Apple silicon
For an Intel Mac click Download for Intel Mac
Not sure
Click the Mac menu → About This Mac
Look for Chip (Apple silicon) or Processor (Intel)
Download and move EssentAI to Applications
Download the file
In Finder, open Downloads
If it is a zip, double click it to extract EssentAI.app
Drag EssentAI.app into your Applications folder
First attempt to open EssentAI
In Applications, double click EssentAI
When macOS says it cannot open it because it is from an unidentified developer and offers Move to Bin or Cancel, click Cancel
Allow EssentAI in System Settings
Open System Settings → Privacy & Security
Under Security, find the message that EssentAI was blocked
Click Open anyway
In the confirmation dialog, click Open
After this one-off approval, EssentAI will open normally from Applications.
Trial and OpenAI key
On first launch, your EssentAI free trial starts automatically (three uploads included)
To use the AI features, add your OpenAI API key via
EssentAI → Preferences…
Why is EssentAI not available in the Apple and Microsoft Store?
EssentAI is distributed directly rather than through the Apple and Microsoft Store so costs can be kept as low as possible for users. App stores typically charge a significant percentage on each transaction, which would ultimately need to be passed on through higher subscription prices.
By distributing EssentAI directly, pricing remains fair and transparent, updates can be delivered more quickly.
This approach allows EssentAI to prioritise value, flexibility, and long-term sustainability for students, researchers, and academics.
Why is EssentAI a standalone desktop application?
EssentAI is designed as a standalone desktop tool instead of a web-based service to give users greater privacy, control and simplicity.
All documents are processed locally on your device before being sent securely to OpenAI for analysis — nothing is uploaded to external servers managed by EssentAI.
Your API key and extracted data are stored securely on your computer, not in the cloud.
The application connects to OpenAI only when performing analysis, ensuring your research data stays private.
It also allows for faster document handling and eliminates distractions from browsers or web tabs, helping students and professionals focus on their work.
⚠️ Note: EssentAI still requires an active internet connection to communicate with OpenAI’s servers when analysing or paraphrasing text.
How do I add an OpenAI API Key
EssentAI uses a Bring Your Own Key (BYOK) approach, which means you must connect your own OpenAI API key before you can start analysing articles.
Open EssentAI on your computer.
Open Settings:
Windows: Go to File → Settings and select Subscribe.
macOS: Go to EssentAI → Preferences, then select Subscribe.
Under API Key, click Open OpenAI Dashboard.
Log in to your OpenAI account or create an account if you do not have one ( https://platform.openai.com ).
Click Create new secret key.
After creating the key, copy it (it will look like
sk-1234ABCD...).Return to EssentAI, paste the key into the API Key field, and click Save API Key.
In the Choose GPT model dropdown, select the model you want to use for your session.
Click Test Format to confirm your connection, then click Save to close the window.
Important note:
Your API key is stored securely on your device and never shared externally.
How do I subscribe to EssentAI?
To activate the full version of EssentAI and unlock all features, follow these steps:
Open EssentAI on your computer.
Open Settings:
Windows: Go to File → Settings and select Subscribe.
macOS: Go to EssentAI → Preferences, then select Subscribe.
You will be redirected to the secure checkout page (powered by Paddle).
Complete your purchase by entering your payment details.
After subscribing, you will see a Thank You page where you can enter your email address.
Check your inbox (and spam or junk folder if needed) for an email containing your account access link.
Click the link in the email to open your EssentAI Account Page, where your subscription code will be displayed.
Copy the subscription code and return to EssentAI → Settings.
Paste the code into the Subscription / Licence field and click Validate.
Once validated, your licence will show as Active, and you can access or manage your subscription anytime by clicking Manage in the Settings window.
Does EssentAI store or train on my data?
EssentAI runs as a standalone desktop application and does not train any AI models on your data. Uploaded articles and notes are stored locally on your computer.
When you connect your own OpenAI API key, text is sent directly to OpenAI for processing under their API terms. Data sent via the OpenAI API is not used to train OpenAI models and is subject to their data handling and retention policies.
Does EssentAI replace reading the journal article?
No. EssentAI is designed to support your research, not replace it.
The tool helps you quickly identify a paper’s focus, objectives and methodology, allowing you to decide whether it is relevant to your work.
By automating the time-consuming process of scanning articles, EssentAI gives you more time to focus on critical reading, analysis and writing, the parts of research that require your own insight and judgement.
Tip: Use EssentAI to shortlist relevant papers, then read the most important ones in full to build a strong understanding of your topic.
What types of documents can I upload?
EssentAI only supports PDF documents, including journal articles, research papers and professional reports.
The application is designed exclusively for .pdf files, ensuring consistent performance and accurate text extraction.
To upload a document, click Browse Files on the main screen and select your PDF from your computer.
Tip: Scanned or image-based PDFs may not return accurate results because they do not contain selectable text.
Can EssentAI paraphrase my own writing?
Yes, you can use the Paraphrasing Tool in EssentAI to refine, simplify or rephrase your own text.
It helps improve clarity and flow while preserving your original meaning, making it useful for rewriting dense sections of academic work or preparing summaries for reports.
To use it, open the Paraphrasing Tool from the main window, paste your text. EssentAI will generate an alternative version of your text that you can review and edit further.
Tip: Always review generated content carefully to ensure it reflects your voice and meets your academic integrity requirements.