OpenAI Launches 'Deep Research' Feature for ChatGPT

On Sunday, OpenAI introduced a new functionality called "deep research" for its ChatGPT service. This feature allows users to plan and complete complex data searches automatically and autonomously.

What Happened: The deep research capability enables users to pose questions through various forms, including text, images, as well as documents such as PDFs or spreadsheets. The response generation typically takes between five to thirty minutes, making it a significant advancement beyond simple text generation.

The deep research tool comes with a sidebar that provides a summary of its research process, listings of citations, and a comprehensive reference overview.

Despite its advanced features, OpenAI has acknowledged some limitations. The deep research tool may occasionally "hallucinate," meaning it can mistakenly mix credible information with rumors.

This feature is tailored for users operating at a research analyst level, but OpenAI is still fine-tuning its accuracy and reliability.

Currently, OpenAI’s deep research tool is available for Pro subscribers, who can perform up to 100 queries each month for a fee of $200. There are also limited options for Plus, Team, and Enterprise users.

According to OpenAI, the model behind deep research scored 26.6% accuracy on an AI benchmark, indicating better performance compared to earlier models.

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Why It Matters

The introduction of this deep research capability coincides with OpenAI's recent rollout of the o3-mini model. This model excels in science, math, and coding while maintaining low operational costs. It is part of a new reasoning series made available on both ChatGPT and the API.

Additionally, OpenAI has launched another innovative feature named Operator, which functions as an AI agent capable of independently carrying out web tasks. This agent merges GPT-4o's visual abilities with enhanced reasoning skills derived from reinforcement learning.

In an exciting development for the company, SoftBank Group Corp. is reportedly in discussions to lead a massive $40 billion funding round for OpenAI, which could elevate the company's valuation to around $300 billion.

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Closing Thoughts

OpenAI's deep research feature demonstrates a significant advancement in the ability to perform autonomous data analysis, yet it is important for users to remain aware of its current limitations. As the technology continues to evolve, it holds the potential to change how research and data analysis are conducted.

OpenAI, AI, Research