OpenAI's New ChatGPT Feature, Deep Research, Revolutionizes Information Gathering

In a strategic shift towards enhancing artificial intelligence capabilities, OpenAI has introduced 'Deep Research,' a cutting-edge feature within ChatGPT designed to serve as a robust research assistant. Released in a rare Sunday announcement, this innovative tool can churn out comprehensive insights on virtually any topic in under an hour by leveraging web searches, summarizing complex information, and creating detailed, citation-rich reports.

Bridging the Knowledge Gap

Deep Research aims to meet the demands of professionals engaged in intensive knowledge work across diverse fields like finance, science, policy, and engineering. Notably, this feature promises precision and reliability, making it indispensable for those seeking thorough research. Additionally, it caters to meticulous shoppers who require highly personalized recommendations for significant purchases such as automobiles, home appliances, and furniture. Each output generated by Deep Research is meticulously documented, offering clear citations and a transparent summary to facilitate easy verification and referencing of information.

The Technology Behind the Innovation

The driving force of Deep Research is a specially tailored version of OpenAI’s new o3 model, fine-tuned for in-depth web data analysis. This functionality comes with a premium, currently bundled with the $200/month ChatGPT Pro subscription, given its high computational demands. Users are also limited to 100 queries monthly. Notably, plans are underway to extend this service to ChatGPT Plus, Teams, and eventually Enterprise subscribers. However, it is presently unavailable in certain regions, including the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and the European Economic Area.

Addressing Potential Shortcomings

Acknowledging the possibility of 'hallucinated' facts, OpenAI assures users that Deep Research exhibits a reduced incidence of this phenomenon compared to existing ChatGPT versions. The expectation is that the accuracy and dependability of Deep Research will improve as more data is gathered and the model is refined over time.

Competitive Landscape

OpenAI's Deep Research echoes a similar initiative by Google, which launched a 'Deep Research' assistant for Gemini Advanced users in December. Positioned as a time-saving tool, the Google counterpart provides users with detailed reports and direct links to the original sources of information, albeit at a more affordable subscription cost of $19.99/month.

Looking Towards the Future

The advent of these advanced capabilities raises questions about the future role of human consultants and research assistants. Yet, OpenAI views Deep Research as a pivotal venture towards achieving broader goals in artificial general intelligence (AGI), aspiring to enable AI in conducting original scientific research. This development represents a significant milestone in the quest for AGI.