On Sunday, OpenAI announced its latest advancement: the Deep Research Mode for ChatGPT. This innovative feature allows the chatbot to perform complex, multi-step research in real-time across the internet. This substantial enhancement positions OpenAI closer to its vision of developing agentic AI capable of executing tasks autonomously.

Highlights of Deep Research Mode

During a livestream announcement, OpenAI Developers showcased how the new mode enables ChatGPT to access extensive data instantly. Although this function enhances research capabilities, it may result in slightly longer response times as the chatbot analyzes information.

Deep Research Mode edges closer to reaching artificial general intelligence (AGI), which represents an AI that can handle any intellectual task at a human level. OpenAI mentioned that this feature will be especially valuable for professionals engaged in knowledge-heavy roles such as engineering, finance, literature, and biology.

A Revolution for Professionals

This mode will initially be available to OpenAI Pro users for $200 a month, with plans to roll it out to Plus tier subscribers for $20 a month once safety measures are confirmed.

Capabilities and Constraints

Deep Research can tackle tasks ranging from 5 to 30 minutes, depending on complexity, necessitating high computing power. Users will receive outputs with clear citations and reasoning documentation. OpenAI has also recognized the model still tends to hallucinate more often compared to traditional ChatGPT versions, albeit less frequently.

Future Applications

• Engineering: Ideal for analyzing materials, providing solutions, and proposing innovations.
• Finance: Useful for scrutinizing market trends, providing investment recommendations, and risk assessments.
• Literature and Biology: Can aid in studying intricate subjects across various fields.

Significance for AI Development

The introduction of Deep Research marks a pivotal moment in the AI sector. With OpenAI’s drive toward AGI, this tool signifies a shift from AI as merely a supportive resource to a potential autonomous decision-maker in diverse industries.