How to activate ChatGPT’s free new tool that can save you hours of work

Say goodbye to endless browser tabs and manual note-taking—this feature handles your research for you. With just a click, you can unlock an AI agent that compiles and cites information in seconds.

A new generation of digital assistants

Forget simple text generation or code snippets—ChatGPT’s latest feature acts like a personal AI agent, scouring the web, organising credible sources and delivering a polished summary. Built on a streamlined version of OpenAI’s o4-mini model, this in-depth search tool is now available at no cost, seamlessly integrated into the free tier of ChatGPT without sacrificing quality.

How does it work?

Simply type a precise query—say, “Provide an overview of 2024 renewable energy policies in Europe”—and click the In-Depth Search button beneath the input field. Behind the scenes, the AI visits multiple reputable sites, poses follow-up questions to itself, and compiles a concise, referenced report. You can even watch the process in real time, as if monitoring a highly efficient intern at work.

A huge time saver, but use wisely

This time saver is a godsend for journalists, students, market analysts and entrepreneurs alike. One colleague used it to summarise agricultural innovation in Africa for a feature story and reclaimed at least three hours of work. However, always verify sources—organisations like AFP Factuel and Le Décodex stress the importance of fact-checking. Each report includes live links to original articles, making verification quick and painless.

What are the limitations?

While the tool is free, usage is capped at five searches per month on the standard ChatGPT plan—a fair allowance for occasional deep dives, but one that power-users may exhaust quickly. Responses in this lighter model tend to be shorter than those in paid tiers, yet they remain well-structured and clear, offering a reliable balance between depth and brevity.

With this powerful update, ChatGPT edges closer to a fully fledged personal assistant, capable of researching, summarising and citing sources on your behalf. It’s poised to become an indispensable part of many workflows—provided you use it thoughtfully.