OpenAI has introduced a new variant of its ChatGPT deep research tool, which is designed to be more cost-effective. This “lightweight” model is now accessible to both free users and those subscribed to various paid plans.
The lightweight deep research tool operates on a version of OpenAI’s o4-mini model. According to OpenAI, it maintains a high level of intelligence, almost matching the original deep research mode. This original mode generates extensive reports complete with citations and detailed summaries of its findings. The lightweight version, on the other hand, provides more concise responses while still preserving the expected depth and quality.
Currently, the full-featured deep research model is limited to paid users. However, the lightweight version is being made available to free users, who can perform up to five tasks per month. Paid users will also benefit from this new model, as it will automatically activate when they exceed their usage limits on the original deep research tool. This adjustment allows Team and Plus users to complete a total of 25 tasks monthly across both versions, while Pro users can handle up to 250 tasks. Enterprise and Education users will gain access next week, with the same limits as Team and Plus users.
A key advantage for OpenAI is the reduced operational costs associated with this new model. This is particularly significant given the substantial expenses involved in maintaining the service, with OpenAI reportedly spending “tens of millions of dollars” to manage user interactions.
(Source: The Verge)
