If you’ve ever lost an afternoon pulling together research for a report, a school project, or a market analysis, there’s good news: ChatGPT now includes a feature that can take over the heavy lifting for you. It’s fast, surprisingly accurate, and, best of all, completely free to use.
A new generation of digital assistants
For years, AI tools were mainly used to write text, translate documents, or generate code snippets. But things are moving quickly. The next step is what many experts call AI agents – tools capable of taking on complex tasks, from scanning the web to sorting information and compiling structured reports with proper references.
That’s precisely what the new Deep Research feature does. Built on a lighter version of OpenAI’s o4‑mini model, it works inside the free version of ChatGPT without sacrificing clarity or reliability.
Think of it as a research assistant who handles the groundwork for you while you clear your inbox or sip a much‑needed coffee.
How it works
Using it is almost effortless. Type an explicit request – something like “Make a detailed overview of European energy transition policies in 2024” – and look for the Deep Research button that appears below the input bar.
Once activated, the AI begins exploring multiple reliable sources and builds a structured summary of its findings. You can even watch the agent work in real time: the websites it consults, the intermediate questions it raises, the steps it follows. It feels a bit like watching an especially organised intern who somehow never gets tired.
A huge time‑saver – if used wisely
This tool shines in situations where information is dense and scattered. Journalists, students, analysts, and small business owners will likely get the most out of it. A colleague of mine recently used it to prepare a briefing on farming innovations across Africa for an upcoming documentary. His verdict? “It saved me at least three hours.”
Of course, even with a powerful AI at your disposal, fact‑checking remains non‑negotiable. Organisations like AFP Fact Check and Le Monde’s Décodex have long emphasised the importance of verifying online information. Fortunately, each Deep Research report includes links to the sources it used, making verification far easier than starting from scratch.
What you need to know about its limitations
The tool is free, but not unlimited. Users on the free tier can activate Deep Research up to five times per month. That’s more than enough for occasional research tasks, but heavy users may hit that cap quickly.
Additionally, the summaries generated by the lighter model can be shorter than those available to paying subscribers. Still, they remain impressively clear, well-structured, and practical.
A glimpse of the future of personal AI
With this new feature, ChatGPT edges closer to becoming a true intelligent personal assistant – one that searches, filters, summarises, and even cites information for you. Used thoughtfully, it could become indispensable to anyone who deals with information daily.
The only real question now is: have you tried this autonomous research tool yet?
English (US) · 
