ChatGPT Free Users Can Now Run 'Deep Research' Five Times a ...
ChatGPT introduced its "Deep Research" tool back in February, initially available only to subscribers. The good news is that the company has decided to make a lighter version of this tool accessible to all users, including those on the free service tier.
According to OpenAI, the lightweight edition of the Deep Research tool will provide more concise responses while maintaining the same level of depth and quality in its reports. OpenAI mentions that the lightweight version is powered by OpenAI o4-mini, which retains much of the intelligence found in the original Deep Research tool but at a more cost-effective rate.
Increased Query Limits
OpenAI is also updating the number of queries users can make using the Deep Research tool. ChatGPT Plus, Team, Enterprise, and Edu users will now have 25 queries per month, Pro users will have 250 queries, and Free users will have five queries per month on the lightweight version. Once the query limit for the original Deep Research tool is exhausted, queries will automatically shift to the lightweight version, ensuring a seamless user experience.
This strategic move by OpenAI aims to enhance ChatGPT's competitiveness in the market, particularly against competitors like Perplexity, which has been offering a similar tool to all users for some time now. While Perplexity Pro subscribers enjoy unlimited access, free account holders receive five queries per day.
Rollout to Free and Paid Users
OpenAI is progressively rolling out this new tool to both free users and paid account holders, including Plus, Pro, and Team subscribers. Enterprise and Edu users can expect to gain access to the tool starting next week, showcasing OpenAI's commitment to expanding the reach of its innovative solutions across different user segments.
