OpenAI has introduced a new AI tool, Deep Research, designed to produce detailed, research-level reports within minutes. The announcement was made in Tokyo, where OpenAI CEO Sam Altman also unveiled a new joint venture with SoftBank Group to deliver advanced AI services to businesses.
According to OpenAI, Deep Research can complete in minutes what would typically take hours for a human researcher. The AI-powered tool analyzes, synthesizes, and consolidates information from hundreds of online sources, providing comprehensive insights at the level of a professional research analyst.
What is Deep Research?
Deep Research is an AI agent, meaning it can autonomously perform tasks on behalf of users. It is powered by a version of OpenAI’s latest O3 model, optimized for web browsing and data analysis. The tool can search through vast amounts of text, images, and PDFs to generate a structured and fully documented research report.
According to OpenAI, Deep Research represents a significant step toward the broader goal of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)—AI systems capable of matching or surpassing human intellectual performance across various tasks.
How Deep Research Works
Users can access Deep Research directly within ChatGPT by selecting the feature in the message composer. Here’s how it works:
- Enter a Query – Users input a research question, such as a competitive analysis on streaming platforms or a personalized commuter bike recommendation.
- Attach Context – Supporting files or spreadsheets can be uploaded to provide additional context.
- AI Conducts Research – The tool systematically searches, analyzes, and compiles information, displaying a sidebar summary of the sources and research steps.
- Receive a Comprehensive Report – Depending on the complexity of the query, results may take between 5 and 30 minutes to generate. Users receive a notification once the research is complete.
Upcoming updates will enhance Deep Research with embedded images, data visualizations, and analytics, making reports even more informative.
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Deep Research vs. GPT-4o
While GPT-4o is optimized for real-time, multimodal conversations, Deep Research is designed for in-depth, domain-specific inquiries. The key difference lies in its ability to conduct extensive exploration, cite sources, and generate well-documented, work-ready reports rather than quick conversational summaries.
Who Can Benefit from Deep Research?
OpenAI states that Deep Research is tailored for professionals in finance, science, policy, and engineering, who require thorough, precise, and reliable information. However, it is also valuable for consumers conducting in-depth personal research, such as comparing products like cars, appliances, or electronics.
Unlike traditional AI summaries, Deep Research delivers fully referenced reports, making it ideal for those who need verified, high-quality insights for work and decision-making.
A Step Toward Smarter AI Agents
Deep Research builds on OpenAI’s existing AI advancements, integrating reinforcement learning techniques that allow it to reason, discover, and consolidate insights from across the web. While previous OpenAI tools could handle tasks like online shopping and restaurant reservations, Deep Research marks a shift toward AI-driven independent analysis.
With OpenAI facing growing competition from Chinese AI startup DeepSeek, this latest innovation reinforces its position as a leader in AI-powered research and automation.