OpenAI announced on 25th February 2025 that it is making its Deep Research feature available to all paying ChatGPT users. The advanced research tool, which is based on the o3 model and was previously accessible only to Pro users, is now available to Plus (for $20 per month), Team, Edu, and Enterprise subscribers as well, with each package providing 10 in-depth research queries per month.
OpenAI's Deep Research feature, based on the o3 model, enables ChatGPT to independently search the web and then interpret and analyse texts, images, and PDFs found. According to the official statement, this service accomplishes in ten minutes what would take humans many hours and offers explicit references to sources, making it easier to verify information. In its white paper, OpenAI stated: While we continue to examine the potential impacts of the technology, we are only incorporating this model into ChatGPT, not the API, indicating that the company is proceeding cautiously to minimise the risk of potential misuse of the technology.
Introducing the Deep Research feature is part of the competition among AI chatbots, with Google Gemini, Grok, and xAI offering tools similar to those for their paid users. Whilst ChatGPT Pro users receive 120 queries per month (up from the previous 100), Perplexity AI offers this service for free. OpenAI's decision not to make the research tool available through its developer API reflects the company's effort to avoid potential misleading or manipulative uses of the technology as the company continues to refine its methods for the safer application of AI models.
Sources:
1.
Maxwell Zeff
2.
Isobel O’Sullivan
3.
Explore OpenAI’s new research initiative aimed at tackling complex AI challenges.
4.
Zee
