Melissa Donovan
Generative AI leader OpenAI has introduced a powerful new research tool, Deep Research, designed to conduct multi-step online investigations for complex tasks. The tool, launched on Sunday, leverages an optimized version of OpenAI’s forthcoming “o3” model, tailored for web browsing and data analysis.
According to OpenAI, Deep Research enables users to input a prompt, prompting ChatGPT to search, analyze, and synthesize information from multiple online sources, including text, images, and PDFs. The tool aims to generate comprehensive reports at a level comparable to human research analysts, significantly reducing the time required for in-depth analysis.
“It accomplishes in tens of minutes what would take a human many hours,” OpenAI stated in its announcement.
Early-Stage Limitations
Despite its advanced capabilities, OpenAI acknowledges that Deep Research is still in its early development phase and has some limitations. The company cautions that the tool may struggle to distinguish authoritative sources from misinformation and can exhibit weaknesses in confidence calibration, sometimes failing to convey uncertainty effectively.
Availability and Future Rollout
Deep Research is currently accessible through the web version of ChatGPT, but OpenAI plans to extend its availability to mobile and desktop applications by February. The tool follows OpenAI’s January launch of Operator, an AI agent designed to assist users with tasks such as creating to-do lists and planning vacations.
As OpenAI continues expanding its suite of AI-powered research tools, Deep Research represents a significant step toward enhancing automated data analysis and synthesis capabilities. However, users are advised to cautiously approach its findings, given its ongoing development and potential accuracy challenges.
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