Artificial Intelligence

Introduction to Deep Research

February 13, 2025
AI researcher analyzing multiple holographic screens with data visualizations in a futuristic setting

Key insights:

  • Deep Research takes up to 30 minutes to analyze multiple sources, images, and tables to deliver comprehensive, fully cited research reports that outperform quick AI responses.
  • The tool excels at market analysis, academic research, product comparisons, and literature reviews while achieving 26.6% accuracy across expert subjects on benchmark tests.
  • Currently available on ChatGPT Pro with planned expansion to Plus, Team, Education and Enterprise versions, users can optimize results by providing specific queries and clear formatting requirements.

What is Deep Research and Why Should You Care?

Remember those late nights spent diving into rabbit holes of research, tabs multiplying faster than your coffee cups? Well, OpenAI just dropped something that might make those research marathons a thing of the past. Their new Deep Research capability is like having a super-smart research assistant who never needs sleep breaks or caffeine refills.

Deep Research is OpenAI's latest offering that conducts multi-step research online, discovers and synthesizes content, and adapts its approach as it uncovers new information. But here's the kicker, it's not rushing to give you half-baked results, it takes its sweet time, up to 30 minutes if needed, to deliver thoroughly researched insights.

How Does Deep Research Compare to Traditional Research Methods?

Traditional research often involves jumping between multiple tabs, copying and pasting information, and trying to connect dots while maintaining your sanity. Deep Research, on the other hand, does all this heavy lifting for you. It browses multiple sources, analyzes content including images and tables, and provides fully cited reports that would make your old college professor proud.

What Makes Deep Research Different from Regular AI Tools?

Unlike typical AI models that rush to give you quick answers, Deep Research takes its time, sometimes up to 30 minutes, to provide comprehensive analysis. It's powered by OpenAI's soon-to-be-released O3 reasoning model and has been trained using end-to-end reinforcement learning on complex browsing tasks.

Can Deep Research Really Replace Human Research?

While Deep Research isn't here to replace human researchers, it's definitely here to make their lives easier. It can complete tasks that would typically take humans many hours, reaching new highs on both public and private evaluations. On Humanity's Last Exam, a benchmark from the Center for AI Safety and Scale AI, it achieved an impressive 26.6% accuracy across expert subjects.

Real-World Applications of Deep Research

Let's get practical. Deep Research isn't just another fancy AI tool, it's a versatile assistant that can help with everything from market analysis to academic research. Whether you're a business analyst, researcher, or just someone trying to make an informed purchase decision, Deep Research has got your back.

What Kind of Tasks Can Deep Research Handle?

The capabilities of Deep Research are quite impressive. Here are some key areas where it excels:

  • Market research and analysis
  • Academic research across various fields
  • Product research and comparison
  • Investment analysis
  • Literature review and synthesis

How Long Does Deep Research Take to Complete Tasks?

While some might see this as a drawback, Deep Research's longer processing time (5-30 minutes) is actually a feature, not a bug. This extended processing allows for:

  • More thorough analysis of sources
  • Better synthesis of information
  • More accurate and comprehensive results
  • Fully cited and verifiable outputs

What Makes Deep Research Results More Reliable?

One of the standout features of Deep Research is its commitment to accuracy. It provides detailed citations for all sources used, allows users to verify information, and achieves the best performance on hallucination evaluations compared to other OpenAI models.

Getting Started with Deep Research

Ready to dive into the world of AI-powered research? Deep Research is initially available on ChatGPT Pro, with plans to roll out to other platforms soon. If you're excited about leveraging AI tools like Deep Research, you might want to check out Futurise's ChatGPT Course to become a Generative AI Prompt Engineer.

How Can You Access Deep Research?

Deep Research is launching first in ChatGPT Pro, with plans to expand to Plus, Team, Education, and Enterprise versions. To get started, you can sign up for a free trial at Futurise and begin exploring the possibilities of AI-powered research.

What Are the Best Practices for Using Deep Research?

To get the most out of Deep Research:

  • Be specific with your queries
  • Provide clear formatting requirements
  • Allow sufficient time for processing
  • Verify sources and citations

How Can You Optimize Your Research Queries?

The key to getting great results from Deep Research lies in how you frame your questions. Be specific about your requirements, including the format you want for the output and any particular aspects you want the model to focus on. The more detailed your query, the more targeted and useful the results will be.

To see Deep Research in action and learn more about its capabilities, check out the comprehensive demonstration on the OpenAI YouTube channel, where the team showcases real-world applications and explains the technology behind this innovative research tool.