Overview

• OpenAI has launched a cost-efficient, lightweight version of its Deep Research tool, powered by the o4-mini model, for all ChatGPT users, including free-tier subscribers.
• Free users now receive five Deep Research tasks per month, while paid tiers see expanded quotas: Plus/Team users get 25 tasks, and Pro users 250 tasks across both full and lightweight versions.
• The lightweight version delivers shorter responses but maintains depth and quality, automatically activating when paid users exhaust their full-version quotas.
• Designed to reduce infrastructure demands, the lightweight tool is significantly cheaper to operate while preserving core functionalities like autonomous web browsing and report generation.
• This rollout reflects OpenAI's push to broaden access to agentic AI tools, positioning itself in a competitive landscape with rivals like Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, and xAI’s Grok.