OpenAI Intends to Offer Deep Research for Free on ChatGPT Amid Rising Competition
OpenAI’s Plans for Deep Research Accessibility
OpenAI has exciting news for users of its ChatGPT platform. It aims to soon extend the Deep Research feature to users of the free tier, making it accessible to a broader audience. Until now, this advanced tool has been available only to Plus, Pro, Enterprise, and Edu subscribers since its introduction in early February.
What is Deep Research?
Deep Research is a robust feature that goes beyond basic query responses offered by standard AI models. This innovative tool enables the AI to carry out comprehensive research tasks on its own, eliminating the need for human input. Users can command the AI to generate detailed reports on various topics, which can take anywhere from five to thirty minutes to compile.
Statement from OpenAI Staff
Isa Fulford, a member of OpenAI’s technical team, shared insights about the rollout of the Deep Research feature in a recent webcast on X. While she confirmed that the feature will soon be available for free users, she did not specify an exact launch date. Fulford mentioned, “If you haven’t tried Deep Research, it’s available now for Plus, Pro, Teams, Enterprise, and Edu users, and we’ll launch it for free very soon.”
Subscription Options and Pricing
Deep Research is currently part of the ChatGPT Plus subscription, which costs $20 per month. The Pro subscription is available at $200 per month, providing access to more advanced AI models and enhanced research capabilities. OpenAI has a history of offering some features at no cost after an initial paid period.
Additional Features for Free Users
For users without a paid subscription, OpenAI has introduced the ‘Think Deeper’ feature through Microsoft products, including the Copilot web-based chat and the downloadable Copilot app. This feature utilizes OpenAI’s reasoning model, acting as an introduction to the Deep Research capabilities. Recently, OpenAI also made its image generation feature available for free ChatGPT users, although with certain limitations compared to paid tiers.
Competition in the AI Space
OpenAI’s decision to make the Deep Research function accessible to free users comes amid increasing competition in the AI market. Recently, Google made its Deep Research option on the Gemini platform available for free, which was previously exclusive to Google One AI Premium subscribers. Additionally, Perplexity AI provides its version of Deep Research at no cost, although it does come with certain usage restrictions.
The Importance of Accessibility
By expanding access to advanced features like Deep Research, OpenAI is not only enhancing user experience but also responding to industry trends aimed at making AI capabilities more inclusive. As competitors introduce similar features for free, OpenAI’s commitment to democratizing its tools is notable.
This move reflects a broader goal within the tech community to make powerful AI tools available to a wider range of users, allowing businesses and individuals alike to benefit from advanced research capabilities without the burden of subscription fees. As the launch date for the free version of Deep Research draws closer, more users will have the opportunity to explore and benefit from this powerful tool.
