OpenAI is launching a new "lightweight" version of the ChatGPT in-depth research tool, which compiles thematic research reports by gathering information from the web. The company announced on Thursday that this tool will be available to ChatGPT Plus, Team, and Professional users.
The new lightweight research tool will start rolling out to free ChatGPT users today, powered by OpenAI's o4-mini model. The company stated that although it may not be as capable as the "full" research version, its lower service costs allow for higher usage limits.
"Responses will generally be more concise but still maintain the depth and quality you expect," OpenAI explained in a series of posts on X. "Once the original research tool's limit is reached, queries will automatically switch to the lightweight version."
A series of advanced research tools have recently been introduced across chatbot platforms, including Google's Gemini, Microsoft's Copilot, and xAI's Grok. These tools are driven by AI models with reasoning capabilities, enabling them to analyze problems and perform self-checks—skills that are undoubtedly crucial for conducting thorough research.
OpenAI also announced that the lightweight research tool for ChatGPT will become available to enterprise and educational users next week, offering the same usage level as Team plan subscribers.
