OpenAI Unveils New 'Deep Research' Tool for ChatGPT

DeepSeek has sparked concern in Silicon Valley due to its strong performance and low cost, pushing U.S. developers to accelerate their AI innovations. OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, which brought generative AI into the mainstream in 2022, claims its new tool can complete in minutes what would typically take a human researcher hours.

In a statement, OpenAI explained that "deep research" allows users to prompt ChatGPT to search, analyze, and synthesize hundreds of online sources, producing a detailed report at the level of a research analyst. During a livestreamed demo, OpenAI showcased how the tool could aggregate web data to recommend ski equipment for a trip to Japan.

OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman is in Tokyo for meetings with Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, as well as Masayoshi Son, CEO of SoftBank Group, which is a partner in the Stargate project—a $500 billion U.S. initiative to build AI infrastructure. Altman and Son are also scheduled to host a forum with around 500 businesses, where they are expected to discuss plans to enhance Japan's AI infrastructure, including the construction of AI data centers and power plants.

Altman has also expressed interest in developing "a new kind of hardware" using AI in collaboration with Apple's former chief design officer Jony Ive, although he noted that it could take several years to produce a prototype.

While Altman acknowledged DeepSeek’s competitive edge, he downplayed its innovation, stating that its capabilities were not groundbreaking. The success of DeepSeek has fueled accusations that it may have reverse-engineered U.S. AI technology, prompting OpenAI to warn that Chinese companies are actively working to replicate advanced AI models. As a result, OpenAI is enhancing its collaboration with U.S. authorities to safeguard its technology.