Remember spending hours on Google, opening dozens of browser tabs, and piecing together information from various websites? That tedious process used to be the only way to research anything for your business.
Fast forward to just a few months ago, when AI tools started offering simple web search features. While helpful, these were just scratching the surface. Today, there’s something even better: Deep Research.
What is Deep Research & Why Should You Care?
Consider the difference between a quick web search and having a dedicated research assistant prepare a comprehensive report. While web search gives you direct answers from individual websites, Deep Research analyzes multiple sources, compares information, and connects all the dots for you.
It’s essentially a tireless assistant who researches any topic in minutes instead of hours, independently searching the internet and creating clear, comprehensive summaries.
I use Deep Research regularly – from analysing investment data across multiple ETFs to gathering information for this blog. Tasks that once took a full afternoon now happen during my morning coffee break.
For SMEs, this means you can now:
- Research your competitors without spending days gathering information
- Get market updates without subscribing to expensive research services
- Check industry trends quickly before making important decisions
- Understand new regulations without hiring a consultant
The Big 5 LLMs: Deep Research & Other Recent Enhancements
Deep Research has quickly become a must-have feature, with many of the “Big 5” AI platforms now offering some version of this capability. While they’ve been racing to perfect their research tools, they’ve also rolled out several other impressive updates. Here’s what’s new from each:
ChatGPT (OpenAI):
- Upcoming GPT-4.5 “Orion” model to be released this month excelling in emotionally intelligent and creative applications
- GPT-5 announced for release later this year, expected to demonstrate multiple degrees higher intelligence than current models
- Deep Research limited to 10 searches a month
Claude (Anthropic):
- Recently released Claude 3.7 Sonnet, the first model with hybrid reasoning technology
- Web search functionality coming soon, potentially expanding to deep research capabilities
Gemini (Google):
- Googles latest Gemini 2.0 brings enhanced multimodal capabilities across Google services
- Deep Research functionality handles impressive 1,500-page document analysis but requires a Gemini Advanced subscription
- New Immersive Planner creates visual project workflows for better organization
Grok (xAI):
- Recently launched Grok 3 delivers major improvements in reasoning and multimodal abilities
- Deep Research capabilities exclusive to the latest model
- Innovative Market Pulse feature can monitor forums and social media for emerging trends
Perplexity AI:
- Offers free Deep Research with 5 daily searches (unlimited for subscribers)
- Developing Comet, a specialized AI browser built around “agentic search”
- Now integrates the powerful DeepSeek model for enhanced research capabilities
DeepSeek: The Newcomer Making Waves
DeepSeek, a small startup from Hangzhou, China, has recently emerged as a significant disruptor in the AI space. What’s remarkable is how it delivers performance comparable to industry giants like OpenAI but at a fraction of the cost.
While tech giants spend hundreds of millions on AI development, DeepSeek achieved similar results with minimal investment. This signals a major shift in the industry – challenging the notion that only the wealthiest companies can compete in advanced AI.
By proving high-performance AI can be built cost-effectively, DeepSeek has opened the door for smaller players, potentially leading to more competition, faster innovation, and a more diverse AI ecosystem. For Australian small businesses, this means advanced AI capabilities are becoming increasingly accessible and affordable.
