OpenAI has introduced a streamlined version of its ChatGPT Deep Research tool, aiming to make advanced research capabilities more accessible and efficient for a broader user base.
This new iteration is powered by OpenAI’s o4-mini model, a compact yet potent AI that’s designed to deliver concise and insightful research summaries.
While it doesn’t match the full depth of the original Deep Research tool, it offers a balance between performance and resource efficiency.
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The primary advantage lies in its reduced computational demands, allowing OpenAI to increase usage limits and extend access to free-tier ChatGPT users.
OpenAI notes that responses from the lightweight version will generally be shorter but will maintain the quality and depth users expect.
Once a user reaches the limit for the original Deep Research tool, queries will automatically default to this lighter version, ensuring uninterrupted service.
The lightweight Deep Research tool is now available to ChatGPT Plus, Team, and Pro subscribers.
Free-tier users also gain access starting today, broadening the tool’s reach. Enterprise and educational users can expect access next week, with usage levels aligning with those of Team users.
This new release comes as part of a broader trend where AI-powered research tools are becoming increasingly prevalent.
Competitors like Google’s Gemini, Microsoft’s Copilot, and xAI’s Grok have also launched their own research assistants, highlighting the growing importance of reasoning capabilities and self-verification in AI models.
