Smarter Insights: An Introduction to Deep Research With ChatGPT

byrichardgb

2.3K followers

8 months ago

Many of us are happy now to be using ChatGPT in one of its many forms.

Most AI tools are, of course, excellent in different ways.

It seems to me that no month goes by without writers claiming that the latest addition to their favourite AI tool is “a game changer!”

I saw no announcements for ChatGPT Plus’s Deep Research function, but I noticed it, I tried it out.

What Is ChatGPT’s Deep Research?

I found that the “Deep Research” function is like having a hyper-efficient research assistant that works with you—not instead of you—that never sleeps, and really is a game changer!

It goes much deeper than the normal AI tool prompts.

It’s ideal for anyone who wants to avoid spending hours gathering accurate information and sorting through search results, such as writers, creators, and marketers.

“Deep Research” fixes the following challenges:

• “My research leads to too many open tabs.”
• “I can't trust what I find.”
• “My research takes too long to cross-reference.”
• “My research takes so long I get sidetracked easily.”
• “It’s hard to figure out what’s true.”

“Deep Research” eliminates these headaches:

• Saves time
  It cuts hours of deep research down to 2 to 10 minutes. I find I need to be patient, but it is very fast relative to multiple shallow searches.
• Verify credibility
  It cross-checks facts and references reliable sources.
• Organise results
  It gives you clear, structured, and readable outputs.
• Summarise complexity
  It explains complicated ideas in plain English.
• Next steps
  It suggests keywords, angles, questions, and content directions.

How It Works

You give it:

• A topic or question.
• A short context if needed (optional).
• Preferred output formats (e.g. table, bullet points, long-form, Q&A).

It returns:

• Relevant questions for clarity
• Factual, non-repetitive, cleanly structured answers.
• Relevant source links (verified, current).
• Fresh angles and useful summaries.

You stay in control—refining, rechecking, and building on results as needed.

Ideal Use Cases for Writers and Marketers

Writers

– Use it to find missing angles

– Clarify technical topics

– Avoid clichés

Marketers

– Build content briefs in minutes

– Find keywords others miss

– Research your audience’s actual problems

– Benchmark your site against competitors

Tips for Using It Well

1. Be specific
   Instead of “Tell me about AI,” ask “What are the regulatory risks for AI startups in Europe?”
2. Answer its questions
   When the tool asks for your input give it accurate and complete answers.
3. Layer your requests
   Start broad, then narrow. Follow up with “Give examples,” “Turn this into an article outline,” or “What are counterarguments?”
4. Use formats
   Ask for results in tables, bullet points, frameworks, or numbered lists.
5. Check sources
   Since the sources are internet based, always glance through links provided. Trust, but verify.
6. Test variations
   Change how you phrase prompts to nudge it in different directions.

Sample Prompts to Try

I’ve tried these examples with fantastic results.

• “Compare the long-term risks of renting vs buying in London, with financial data.”
• “Summarise Warren Buffett’s investment strategy in plain language with 3 real examples.”
• “What are the most common flaws in B2B SaaS onboarding copy?”
• “Which European towns are investing heavily in smart agriculture?”

Who Should Avoid It?

• People who are looking for surface-level answers.
• Those who won’t fact-check high-stakes claims.
• Anyone who wants mindless content filler.
• If you don’t ask good questions or respond well to its questions, it won’t save you.

Summary

As ever, the better the prompt, the better the output.

Deep Research delivers a clear structure but, as usual, lacks humanity - if you use it to create content, add your own style.

It provides in-depth, source-based facts but obviously is dependent on what it finds on the internet.

It can provide fresh content angles.

Although it compresses hours of research down to 5 to 20 minutes, you still need to think but can use it as a source for designing one or more posts.

Will you try it out? ;-) Richard