AI research features are upgraded regularly, so steps and names can change within weeks. Look at when this article was published, and get in touch with Softwired for training material that's current.
The short answer
Deep research is a mode where the AI spends several minutes, sometimes longer, working like a research assistant. It makes a plan, searches many websites (and your own files and connected apps, if you allow it), reads what it finds, and writes a structured report with citations you can click to check. Use it for questions that need many sources and a written answer you can rely on. ChatGPT and Gemini call it Deep Research, Claude calls it Research, and Microsoft 365 Copilot has an agent called Researcher.
If a confident AI answer has caught you out before, deep research gives you a way to check: each claim in the report links to the page it came from.
Chat with web search compared with deep research
| Chat with web search | Deep research | |
|---|---|---|
| Time | Seconds | Minutes or more |
| Sources | A few | Many more |
| Output | An answer | A structured, cited report |
| Best for | Quick facts | Market scans, comparisons, policy summaries, background briefings |
What each tool calls it
| Tool | Name | How to start it (checked 31 October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT | Deep research | Choose Deep research from the tools menu (+) or the sidebar. OpenAI's ChatGPT proposes a research plan you can edit, and lets you limit or prioritise specific sites (Sites > Manage sites). It shows its progress and delivers a cited report you can download as Markdown, Word or PDF. It only reads from connected apps. |
| Claude | Research | Type /deep-research or use + > Research. It's on Pro, Max, Ultra, Team and Enterprise, and can search the web and your connected tools. |
| Gemini | Deep Research | Choose Deep Research in the Gemini app. Google lets you export reports to Canvas and turn them into other formats. |
| Microsoft 365 Copilot | Researcher | Microsoft's agent for multi-step research across the web and, with a licence, your work data. At work it needs a Microsoft 365 Copilot licence. For personal use it's on Microsoft 365 Premium and Pro, and not on Personal or Family. |
| Grok | Not confirmed | xAI's Grok searches the web and X live. Official pages don't name a dedicated deep research mode. |
| Meta AI | Research | Meta says Muse Spark can do research, as part of newer abilities rolling out in select markets. Australian availability: not confirmed. |
How you'd actually use it
Write a research brief
Compare a weak request with a strong brief:
- Weak: "Tell me about EV chargers."
- Strong: "I run a property management business in Brisbane. Research the options for installing shared EV chargers in apartment buildings in Queensland: approval steps, common installation models, and what body corporates need to decide. Use government and industry sources first. Give me a two-page summary, then a table of options."
Check the plan
When ChatGPT shows its plan, take ten seconds to fix it: "Also look at strata rules" or "Skip overseas sources".
Limit the sources
For tax questions, add "Only use .gov.au sites and the ATO".
Use your own material
In Claude, with your Drive connected: "Research how our three competitors describe their onboarding, and compare it with the onboarding notes in our shared drive."
How to check a research report
A long, confident report with citations can still be wrong. Before you rely on one:
- Click the citations for every key fact, number and date, and make sure each source says what the report says.
- Check the dates of sources, because older pages can be out of date.
- Look for missing sides. Ask, "What would someone who disagrees say?"
- Check the Australian context. Many sources are from overseas, so ask, "Which of these points apply in Queensland?"
- Check which connectors are on. Anthropic notes that Claude's Research can use your connector tools automatically, so turn off any tool that can write or send before you start.
Frequently asked questions
How long does deep research take?
Usually several minutes, and longer for complex topics. You can do something else while it runs.
Does deep research use more of my plan?
Generally, yes. It's one of the heavier features, and limits on how many reports you can run vary by plan.
Can deep research read my company documents?
Yes, in tools where you've connected or uploaded them, and where your plan and admin settings allow it.
Related guides
- Why AI gets things wrong and how to check its work
- AI connectors, apps and MCP explained
- AI tool features explained: a plain-English guide for 2026
Put it to work with AI On Ramp
Deep research is only as good as the question you give it and the checking you do afterwards.
AI On Ramp gets your team using AI with confidence, on their own work and across teams, while you keep its cost and risk under control. We set up the tools, then our consultants sit beside your most advanced AI users and build real in-house workflows with them. Your nominated AI Lead gets the governance tools and our ongoing support to keep the business current as the tools change. We bring deep technical expertise and decades of business change management, and we work face to face from Brisbane and along Australia's east coast. See how AI On Ramp works.
Want to talk through how this applies to your team? Book a call with Softwired.
