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Plugins / AI & summaries

papersgpt

by c7w · github.com/c7w/papersgpt-for-zotero-sidebar

A sidebar chatbot that answers questions about text you select, using any OpenAI-format API with your own base URL, model and key.

papersgpt has Atlas grade C (not recommended) because it runs the AI model's replies as code. It works with Zotero 7, not the current Zotero 10. Last checked 6 Nov 2026.

AI & summariesReading & PDFs
View source
Downloads a .xpi file (2.7 MB). In Zotero, open Tools → Plugins and install it from the file.
In useAn estimate of how many copies of Zotero have it: Zotero downloads each new version once for every copy that has the plugin, so we count the downloads of its most-downloaded recent release. Rounded. Plugins that update from outside GitHub count low.
180
DownloadsAll-time downloads of its release files from GitHub, counting every update. Installs from elsewhere aren't counted.
350
ReleasesVersions published on GitHub. Everyone who has the plugin downloads each one again, which adds up in Downloads.
5
StarsPeople who starred the repository on GitHub: a rough measure of interest.
71
ContributorsPeople who have committed code to the repository.
4
LicenceThe licence the code is published under, as GitHub reports it.
AGPL-3.0
C
Atlas gradeNot recommended
because it runs the AI model's replies as code
Applies to v0.0.8, released 18 Feb 2025Code checked · not yet tested in a live Zotero
Doesn't work with the current Zotero (10)Works with Zotero 7.
Another plugin uses the same ID3 other plugins share this add-on ID. Zotero can only install one of them.
What we found in the codeSets the gradeThe worst finding in these three areas sets the grade.
Code transparencyMinified (compressed) code; not yet checked against the published sourceThe developer uploaded the release file from the c7w account. We haven't yet checked whether this file matches the public source code.UnknownWe couldn't check this yet.
Updates
Updates come from papersgpt/papersgpt-for-zotero, another listed project with the same add-on IDThe update address is broken (nothing is there), so Zotero can't update it
Where your data goesContacts the developer's server: www.papersgpt.com4 addresses in 3 groups.MediumMedium concern: worth reading before you install. One medium finding makes the grade B.
Developer's servers (1)
www.papersgpt.com
AI services (2)
api.openai.comgenerativelanguage.googleapis.comnamed in its codeThe address is in its code, but we didn't trace a request to it. It may be a link or unused.
On your computer (1)
localhost
Where we found it
www.papersgpt.comchrome/content/scripts/index.js · line 81265
const url2 = `https://www.papersgpt.com/api/zoterosubscribe`;
api.openai.comchrome/content/scripts/index.js · line 77101
this.openaiAPIURL = "https://api.openai.com/v1/embeddings";
Powerful capabilitiesRuns the AI model's replies as code, and 7 moreHighHigh concern: a serious problem. One high finding makes the grade C.
High concern (1)
Runs the AI model's replies as code
Medium concern (3)
A zotero:// link (a web page can open one) can make it install add-ons without asking you (from zotero-plugin-toolkit)A zotero:// link can make it run code if you approve a prompt (from zotero-plugin-toolkit)Launches programs on your computer
Low concern (4)
Uses the clipboardStores API keys or passwordsRuns code it assembles while runningWorks with files on your computer
Where we found it
Runs the AI model's replies as codechrome/content/scripts/index.js · line 82564
window.eval(`
A zotero:// link (a web page can open one) can make it install add-o…chrome/content/scripts/index.js · line 75215

zotero://plugin. zotero-plugin-toolkit removed this link in version 6.0.0; this plugin is built with an older version

Services.io.getProtocolHandler("zotero").wrappedJSObject._extensions["zotero://plugin"] = pluginBridgeExtension;
A zotero:// link can make it run code if you approve a promptchrome/content/scripts/index.js · line 75157

zotero://ztoolkit-debug

Services.io.getProtocolHandler("zotero").wrappedJSObject._extensions["zotero://ztoolkit-debug"] = debugBridgeExtension;
Launches programs on your computerchrome/content/scripts/index.js · line 83374

Programs it names include hdiutil, killall, rm

await Zotero.Utilities.Internal.exec(exec, execCmd);
Before you installShown, not gradedFacts to help you decide. They don't change the grade.
Works withZotero 7 · not 9, 10, 11 betaDoesn't work with the current Zotero (10)MediumMedium concern: worth reading before you install. One medium finding makes the grade B.
Zotero 7 ✓ worksZotero 9 ✗ doesn't workZotero 10 ✗ doesn't workZotero 11 beta ✗ doesn't work
What you'll needZotero 7Detected automatically from its code
No further detail for this area yet.
MaintenanceSlowing down · last release 18 Feb 20254 contributors
No further detail for this area yet.
LanguagesDocumentation in EnglishInterface: English and Chinese
No further detail for this area yet.
We report what we found in the code. Open any area for the evidence.How we gradeReport a problem

What it does

Written by AI from the README

A sidebar chatbot that answers questions about text you select, using any OpenAI-format API with your own base URL, model and key. Prompts are customisable, and setup is done in Zotero's preferences file.

A modified version of PapersGPT by c7w that disables its online sign-in, so you can use your own LLM endpoint instead. The author notes long-context models have made selected-text questions less useful.

What you'll need

Detected automatically
  • Zotero 7Not working with Zotero 10

Where your data goes

We found: contacts the developer's server: www.papersgpt.com. 4 addresses in 3 groups.

Developer's servers (1)
www.papersgpt.com
AI services (2)
api.openai.comgenerativelanguage.googleapis.comnamed in its code
On your computer (1)
localhost
Evidence · file and line
www.papersgpt.comchrome/content/scripts/index.js · line 81265
const url2 = `https://www.papersgpt.com/api/zoterosubscribe`;
api.openai.comchrome/content/scripts/index.js · line 77101
this.openaiAPIURL = "https://api.openai.com/v1/embeddings";

Other plugins that do this

Matched on what they do

For the same job, work with Zotero 10 and graded B or better. Closest match first.

  • B
    Paper Buddy for Zotero

    Lets you ask an AI model about passages you highlight in the PDF reader, with answers in a sidebar thread and a Q&A child note on the item.

    Matches “ask ai about selected text” · 54 downloads · Active · Zotero 7–10
    Works with Zotero 10Actively maintained
  • A
    Zotero ChatGPT

    Puts ChatGPT inside Zotero with a right-click menu and a reader pane for questions with streamed answers.

    Matches “ask chatgpt about selected text” · 44,628 downloads · Active · Zotero 7–10
    Works with Zotero 10Actively maintained
  • B
    Zotero AI Reading (Windows)

    Sends a paper's PDF and a saved prompt to a web AI such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or DeepSeek from the right-click menu.

    Matches “send pdf to web ai chat” · 144 downloads · Active · Zotero 7–10
    Works with Zotero 10Actively maintained
Compare all 4 side by side
How we pick these

By how closely what they do matches this plugin, using descriptions and the phrases people search with. Copies and forks of this plugin are listed under Forks and copies instead. No plugin pays to appear here.

Forks and copies

3 other plugins use the same ID as this one. Every Zotero plugin carries an ID, a name tag Zotero uses to tell plugins apart. These 4 plugins carry the same one, because people copied papersgpt to make their own versions and kept its ID.Show what this means
  • You can only have one. Zotero sees them as the same plugin.
  • Installing another replaces it. If you install one of the others, it takes this one's place.
  • Check what you install. Several share this plugin's name, so make sure the file comes from the one you meant.
papersgpt · this pluginc7w/papersgpt-for-zotero-sidebarCNot recommended35018 Feb 2025
papersgptThe most used · papersgpt/papersgpt-for-zotero–Not graded yet212,1233 Nov 2026
See all 4 and how they differ →

No forks listed.

The developer's response

The developer hasn't responded. Developers can reply here, and their reply sits next to our findings.I'm the developer

Ratings and reviews

What people who use it say. This is separate from the grade, which is what the code does, and never changes it.

No ratings yet.

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Install papersgpt
CNot recommended
We don't recommend itIt runs the AI model's replies as code.
Better-graded plugins for the same jobA+Bionic for ZoteroA+Zotero Focused ModeA+Add Items from Text
Read what we found