Connect OpenAlex to ChatGPT
Query OpenAlex directly from ChatGPT. Arlet links the two through one MCP connection and takes care of API keys.
This server connects your AI client to the OpenAlex REST API (api.openalex.org), a fully open index of the world's research: works, authors, institutions and sources, released under CC0.
Tools:
- search_works: keyword search over all fields with year range, open-access and type filters; sort by relevance, citations or date. Returns title, authors, venue, year, DOI, citation count and open-access link.
- get_work: one work by OpenAlex id or DOI.
- search_authors: researchers by name, with ORCID, works/citation counts, h-index and last known institutions.
- search_institutions: universities, companies and labs by name and country, with ROR id.
- search_sources: journals, conference series and repositories with ISSN, publisher and open-access status.
Abstract handling: the abstract text is returned only for open-access works under a CC licence (or public domain). For everything else the record carries metadata and a link, because abstract text remains the publisher's copyright. Metadata itself is CC0 and may be reused freely.
API key: optional. Anonymous requests share a small free daily budget; a free OpenAlex account gives an API key with a 10x larger daily allowance and paid top-ups beyond that. The key stays in your own Arlet environment variables and usage is attributed to you.
Search terms should be in English: OpenAlex indexes English titles, abstracts and full text.
How to connect OpenAlex to ChatGPT
- 1
In the Arlet dashboard, open Data tools, find OpenAlex and switch it on. No API key setup is needed.
- 2
In ChatGPT, open Settings β Plugins β Browse plugins and click + at the top right.
- 3
In the New Plugin form, enter "Arlet" as the Name, choose Server URL for Connection and enter https://mcp.arlet.dev/mcp/, pick OAuth for Authentication, check the risk acknowledgement and click Create.
- 4
Open the Arlet plugin you created, click Sign in with Arlet, sign in with Google and click Allow. The connection is complete.
If the Plugins screen is not shown, turn on Developer mode under Settings β Security and login.
