On February 3, 2025, OpenAI announced the launch of a new tool called “deep research,” which it claims can produce reports comparable to those generated by research analysts. This tool is designed to perform extensive online research and analysis in a fraction of the time it would take a human, completing tasks in as little as 10 minutes.
- OpenAI announces new "deep research" tool
- Tool claims to match research analyst output
- Deep research analyzes hundreds of online sources
- Available for OpenAI Pro tier users only
- Concerns about reliance on AI-generated reports
- Powered by OpenAI's latest model, o3
The introduction of deep research follows OpenAI’s commitment to accelerate product releases in response to competition from its Chinese rival, DeepSeek. The tool is powered by OpenAI’s latest model, o3, and aims to assist professionals in various fields, including finance and science.
Deep research is designed to analyze and synthesize information from hundreds of online sources, producing comprehensive reports. OpenAI stated that the tool would sift through large volumes of text, images, and PDFs, citing sources for each claim made. This capability is particularly aimed at professionals in sectors like finance, science, and engineering, but it can also evaluate consumer purchases like cars and furniture.
Available initially in the US for users subscribed to OpenAI’s Pro tier at $200 per month, deep research will have a limit of 100 queries each month. This limitation reflects the processing costs associated with each query. In a demonstration, the tool was shown analyzing the market for translation apps, with completion times ranging from five to 30 minutes.
OpenAI’s latest model, o3, which powers deep research, is still in development and has not been fully released to the public. The capabilities of o3 were highlighted in the recent International AI Safety Report, where it was noted for its surprising performance in abstract reasoning tasks. Concerns have been raised by experts regarding the potential misuse of outputs from AI tools without proper verification.
In summary, OpenAI’s deep research tool represents a significant advancement in AI capabilities, promising to enhance productivity for professionals by delivering rapid and thorough research reports. As AI technology continues to evolve, the implications for various industries will be closely monitored.
