What is OpenAI Deep Research? Everything you need to know about AI-powered investigation

Artificial intelligence is transforming how professionals conduct research, and OpenAI’s Deep Research is one of the most advanced tools in this space. Designed for complex, multi-step analysis, this AI-powered research agent promises to streamline workflows by autonomously gathering, analyzing, and summarizing information.

How OpenAI Deep Research works

Unlike standard AI chatbots, Deep Research is built for in-depth investigation, using OpenAI’s o3 model to navigate and extract data from multiple online sources. This allows users to input questions in text, upload images, or attach documents, letting the AI create structured, citation-backed reports.

One of its key strengths is its ability to perform multi-step reasoning, meaning it doesn’t just respond to direct prompts but instead conducts extensive analysis across various data points. Reports generated by Deep Research typically take between five and 30 minutes, depending on the complexity of the query.

Who can benefit from Deep Research?

Deep Research is particularly valuable for professionals in finance, science, engineering, and academia, where detailed information is essential. Businesses can use it for market research, competitive intelligence, and financial forecasting, while researchers can rely on it for literature reviews and technical summaries.

Limitations and accuracy concerns

Despite its capabilities, Deep Research is not always reliable for critical tasks requiring absolute precision, such as legal or medical analysis. Like other AI tools, it is prone to occasional “hallucinations,” where it misinterprets or fabricates information. Additionally, it does not function as a real-time data aggregator, making it less suitable for fast-changing topics like stock markets or breaking news.

Pricing and accessibility

Initially, Deep Research was only available to ChatGPT Pro subscribers at $200 per month, but as of February 2025, OpenAI extended access to ChatGPT Plus users for $20 per month, with a lower query limit. It is available through the ChatGPT web and mobile platforms.