OpenAI has recently unveiled “Deep Research,” an advanced tool designed to transform the landscape of complex online research tasks. Launched on February 2, 2025, this feature is integrated into ChatGPT and leverages OpenAI’s latest o3 model to conduct in-depth, multi-step investigations across the web. The primary objective of Deep Research is to automate labor-intensive research processes by retrieving, analyzing, and synthesizing information from a wide array of online sources, including text, images, and PDFs, to generate comprehensive reports efficiently.
Functionality and Features
Deep Research is engineered to emulate logical reasoning by responding to prompts in iterative steps. This capability allows the tool to plan and execute multi-step processes to gather necessary data, subsequently providing a detailed summary complete with citations. Users can submit queries through various formats such as text, images, PDFs, and spreadsheets, receiving responses within a timeframe of 5 to 30 minutes. For instance, Deep Research can produce a 9,000-word report citing 22 sources in just eight minutes, demonstrating its proficiency in delivering enhanced analysis, relevance, and clarity.
The tool is adept at interpreting and analyzing diverse data types, making it a versatile asset for researchers, analysts, and professionals who need to process substantial amounts of information swiftly. Deep Research can also generate visualizations and incorporate images into its reports, further enhancing data presentation.
Availability and Pricing
Currently, Deep Research is available to Pro users in the United States, with plans to extend access to Plus, Team, and Enterprise users in the future. The Pro subscription is priced at $200 per month and includes up to 100 queries per month. OpenAI also intends to improve the tool’s cost-effectiveness and speed as development progresses.
Challenges and Future Improvements
Despite its impressive capabilities, Deep Research faces certain challenges. The tool may occasionally generate factual inaccuracies or incorrect inferences and can struggle to distinguish between authoritative sources and rumors. Additionally, it may have difficulty accurately conveying uncertainty. OpenAI acknowledges these limitations and is actively working to enhance the tool’s accuracy and reliability.
Furthermore, OpenAI has announced plans to simplify its AI products and create a more streamlined user experience. This strategy includes integrating existing technologies into future models like GPT-5, which will offer varying levels of intelligence based on user subscriptions. These plans reflect a commitment to continuous improvement and adaptation to user needs.
Competition and Market Trends
The launch of Deep Research occurs amid heightened competition in the AI research sector. For example, the Chinese startup DeepSeek has introduced a more affordable AI model, increasing pressure on established players like OpenAI. In response to this competition, OpenAI has decided to consolidate its product offerings by integrating existing models into a more comprehensive GPT-5 model, aiming to simplify its AI systems and enhance user-friendliness.
Future Prospects
With the introduction of Deep Research, OpenAI takes a significant step toward realizing the vision of artificial general intelligence (AGI)—systems that match or exceed human intellectual capacity. As the tool evolves and improves, it is expected to play an increasingly vital role in various sectors, including finance, science, and consumer research. This development marks an exciting advancement in AI-driven research tools and their potential to transform how we gather and analyze information.
In addition to enhancing existing features, OpenAI plans to expand Deep Research’s capabilities to include multiple languages, making the tool accessible to a broader global audience. This expansion will further solidify the tool’s position as an indispensable resource for researchers and professionals worldwide.
