OpenAI has introduced a new lightweight version of its deep research tool for ChatGPT. This streamlined tool is now available to ChatGPT Plus, Team, and Pro users and will also begin rolling out to free users starting today.
What Is Lightweight Deep Research?
The new version aims to offer users faster and more cost-effective research capabilities. It’s powered by OpenAI’s o4-mini model, a smaller and more efficient variant of the model behind the original deep research tool. While not as powerful as the full version, it still delivers detailed, high-quality responses, just in a more concise format.
“Responses will typically be shorter while maintaining the depth and quality you’ve come to expect,” OpenAI stated on X (formerly Twitter).
When users hit the limit for the original deep research tool, their queries will automatically switch to the lightweight version. This allows more users to access research features without compromising too much on performance.
Why OpenAI Introduced This Version
The company created the lightweight version to increase usage limits and reduce server costs. Because the o4-mini model is cheaper to operate, OpenAI can now make research tools more widely available.
Despite its smaller size, the o4-mini model still carries strong reasoning skills. It can think through problems and perform self-fact-checking, important abilities for conducting effective research.
Part of a Bigger AI Trend
This launch comes at a time when AI research tools are gaining popularity. Competitors like Google’s Gemini, Microsoft’s Copilot, and xAI’s Grok have also introduced similar features. All these tools are powered by reasoning-capable AI models, which help users dive deep into complex topics and retrieve reliable information.
What’s Next?
OpenAI plans to extend this tool to Enterprise and educational users next week. These groups will receive the same usage levels currently offered to Team users.
The lightweight version of deep research represents OpenAI’s broader strategy to make advanced AI tools more accessible. By balancing cost-efficiency with performance, the company is opening up its powerful tech to more users than ever before.
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