OpenAI Introduces Advanced "Deep Research" Tool for ChatGPT

Anticipating heightened competition from China's DeepSeek chatbot, OpenAI unveiled its groundbreaking "deep research" tool, intended to bolster ChatGPT's capabilities. This announcement comes ahead of pivotal meetings planned in Tokyo.

Pioneering Developments in AI

DeepSeek has captured Silicon Valley's attention due to its impressive performance and cost-effectiveness, driving American developers to accelerate their advancements. Meanwhile, OpenAI continues its momentum after its breakthrough with ChatGPT, a tool that brought generative AI into the spotlight in 2022.

OpenAI's latest offering, "deep research," empowers ChatGPT to perform tasks independently. It transforms what would traditionally take human researchers hours into a task completed in mere minutes. As stated by OpenAI, the tool harnesses ChatGPT's prowess to search, analyze, and integrate information from hundreds of online sources into a detailed report, akin to a research analyst's work.

In a live video demonstration, OpenAI researchers showcased the tool's ability to process web data to suggest ski gear for a winter trip in Japan—an example of its practical application.

Strategic Partnerships and Future Prospects

OpenAI's CEO, Sam Altman, is in Tokyo for crucial discussions with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. This visit coincides with initiatives involving SoftBank and OpenAI under the Stargate initiative, which plans to inject up to $500 billion into the AI infrastructure within the United States.

Additionally, Ishiba is scheduled for a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, marking their first face-to-face engagement.

During a Tokyo forum attended by nearly 500 businesses, Altman and Masayoshi Son, SoftBank's chief, unveiled a new venture—SB OpenAI Japan—targeted at enhancing Japan's AI landscape. According to the Nikkei business daily, this partnership involves the construction of AI data centers and power facilities, though the details of investment remain unspecified.

Future Hardware Innovations

In an interview with the Nikkei, Altman disclosed plans to collaborate with former Apple chief designer Jony Ive to develop innovative AI hardware. However, he hinted that launching a prototype could take several years.

Altman acknowledged DeepSeek as a notable competitor in AI reasoning, emphasizing that while it highlights significant challenges, its technological capabilities are not new. Recent reports suggest DeepSeek may have reverse-engineered advanced U.S. technology behind AI models like ChatGPT, escalating competition.

Last week, OpenAI cautioned that Chinese firms are making efforts to clone its sophisticated AI models, prompting a closer collaboration with U.S. authorities.