OpenAI’s “deep research” tool is an advanced AI feature within ChatGPT Pro that aims to assist professionals with research tasks by autonomously navigating the web and producing organised reports. While it claims to perform research tasks quickly and has been shown to surpass some AI benchmarks, it has notable limitations, including the tendency to overlook important details, struggle with recent information, and occasionally fabricate facts.
Deep research targets professionals in various fields, such as finance, science, and journalism. It is currently available to ChatGPT Pro users for $200 a month, with plans to extend access to other user tiers. The tool employs a step-by-step approach to generate reports, but early assessments reveal it lacks context, fails to keep up with recent developments, and does not discern reliable sources effectively.
Despite its capabilities, AI cannot replace human judgment, creativity, or scrutiny. Other AI tools have similar functionalities, but the critical risk lies in the misconception that AI can substitute for human thought. Knowledge workers must cultivate skills that AI cannot replicate, such as critical thinking and expertise, and should use such tools mindfully to enhance rather than compromise their research practices.
Source: University of Sydney
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