AI Deep Research: Get a Sourced Report in Minutes
A simple question deserves a quick answer. A complex question requires an investigation: multiple searches, dozens of webpages read, and a synthesis of the findings. That is what AI deep research is for. Several providers offer it in ChatJPT, each with its own approach. This article is part of the guide to using ChatJPT.
Web Search or Deep Research?
Web search (the 🌐 button) adds a few searches to a normal answer. It’s suitable for a current-events question, a sports result, a price, or a date.
AI deep research, by contrast, works for several minutes. An agent plans the investigation, runs multiple searches, reads the pages, and writes a structured report with sources. It is well suited to market research, technology monitoring, or comparing solutions.
Gemini Deep Research: Plan Before Investigating
With Google, choose the Deep Research agent (or the more advanced Deep Research Max) from the model list. Then ask your question. The agent first suggests a research plan, and you have three options:
- ▶ Start: Begin the investigation using the proposed plan.
- ✏️ Edit: Clarify your needs and receive a revised plan.
- Cancel: Stop before the investigation begins.
Research can take anywhere from a few minutes to an hour. ChatJPT displays progress in the meantime. If you close the page, the task continues at Google, and ChatJPT retrieves it when you reopen the application. The final report includes text, sources, and sometimes charts.
Other Deep Research Options
- Perplexity: Specializes in sourced answers, with several levels ranging from fast to comprehensive. Web search is always enabled.
- Qwen Deep Research (Alibaba): Displays its planning and research phases, followed by references. It requires a key for the mainland China region.
- Grok multi-agent: Four or sixteen agents work in parallel on a question. Grok can also search posts on X.
Write a Better Research Request
The quality of the report depends on the question. Here are a few tips:
- Provide context: Your industry, country, and objective.
- Specify the deliverable: A comparison table, a list of recommendations, or an executive summary.
- Define the scope: A time period and sources to prioritize or exclude.
For example, instead of “electric cars,” ask: “Compare the five best-selling electric cars in Quebec in 2026: prices, driving ranges, and incentives, in a table.”
Verify the Sources
AI deep research is still an automated synthesis. It can misinterpret a page or rely on a weak source. Sources are displayed below the report, and each entry is clickable. Take the time to open the references that support important conclusions.
To go further, give two providers the same question with web search enabled and compare their results. That’s the idea behind Compare Two AI Models.
How Much Does AI Deep Research Cost?
AI deep research uses far more tokens than an ordinary response because the agent reads many pages. ChatJPT displays the total tokens at the end of the report. Check each provider’s pricing, for example the Gemini API pricing documentation, before running research tasks repeatedly.