OpenAI has announced that its Deep Research artificial intelligence (AI) agent will now be accessible to all users of ChatGPT. Previously restricted to paid subscribers, the San Francisco-based company is rolling out a “lightweight” version of the tool for free users. This version will utilize the o4-mini AI model and will come with specific usage limits.
OpenAI’s Deep Research AI Agent Expands Access
The announcement was made via a post on X (formerly Twitter), revealing that free users can now access this AI agent for the first time. Paid subscribers will benefit from higher usage limits. OpenAI stated that the new feature would be powered by the o4-mini AI model, making it a more cost-effective option for users.
According to the company’s website, free ChatGPT users will be granted five lightweight Deep Research queries per month. In comparison, ChatGPT Pro users will see an increase from 100 to 250 queries each month.
Once users exceed their regular limit, the system will automatically transition to the lightweight version of the queries. Those on the Plus and Team plans will have access to 25 Deep Research queries monthly, while Enterprise and Edu subscribers are expected to receive similar access next week.
Deep Research in ChatGPT
OpenAI describes the lightweight version of Deep Research as “nearly as intelligent” as its standard counterpart, while offering a more economical processing option. Users can expect shorter responses, yet the company assures that the quality will remain high.
Members of the Gadgets 360 team tested the lightweight version of Deep Research. The feature is accessible through an icon positioned below the text field, next to the reasoning icon. Upon engaging with the AI agent, users must provide a primary query, which prompts ChatGPT to further refine the focus of the research through additional questions. Following this, the research process is initiated, typically lasting between five to 30 minutes.
The complete chain-of-thought (CoT) process is displayed in a sidebar on the right side, and sources used to gather information are cited both alongside the respective sentences and at the bottom of the document.
