OpenAI Unveils New ‘Deep Research’ Tool for ChatGPT

OpenAI has introduced yet another ChatGPT tool — “deep research.” Launched on Feb. 2, the AI agent can absorb and analyze vast amounts of online data and generate detailed reports.

The AI firm claims the agent can process information from text, images, and PDFs in “tens of minutes” instead of the numerous hours it would take a human to research. The tool is powered by OpenAI’s o3 AI model, which is capable of efficiently browsing and collecting data from the internet and adapts to any dynamic information it encounters.

“You give it a prompt, and ChatGPT will find, analyze, and synthesize hundreds of online sources to create a comprehensive report at the level of a research analyst,” OpenAI wrote in a statement.

According to OpenAI, deep research has applications for various industries, including science, engineering, finance, and government legislation. Consumers can also utilize the tool for help in making decisions related to big purchases, such as a car or home appliance. Deep research’s answers come with citations and summaries of where the information was obtained.

Deep Research Is Available Now

For now, deep research is only available to ChatGPT Pro users — who pay a $ 200-a-month subscription — with “up to 100 queries per month.” Yet OpenAI said it will be available to Plus ($20 per month) and Team plans at some point.

While deep research is available, it is still in development and will occasionally present false or wrong information. It can get confused between legitimate data and rumors. However, OpenAI is confident that the inaccuracies and uncertainty of information will ultimately smooth out through testing and user feedback.

The release of deep research comes just a couple of weeks after another OpenAI assistant — Operator — was launched. Operator is an AI agent capable of making restaurant reservations and ordering groceries, with little or no human interaction.

The AI technology race has become tense in recent days. Artificial intelligence development companies were rattled by the release of DeepSeek AI, a Chinese chatbot that is just as powerful as OpenAI’s latest AI model. Topping OpenAI’s ChatGPT, DeepSeek was the most downloaded free app in the Apple Store on Jan. 27, the first day it was released.