OpenAI has officially updated Deep Research in ChatGPT, transitioning its engine to the newly released GPT-5.2 model. The rollout, which began on February 11, 2026, transforms the tool from a “run-and-wait” experience into a highly interactive, guided research session with granular user controls.
While standard ChatGPT searches are for quick facts, Deep Research is designed for multi-step investigations that require 5 to 30 minutes of autonomous browsing, synthesis, and documentation.
1. New “Steerable” Research Controls
Previously, users had to include all instructions in the initial prompt and hope for the best. With the GPT-5.2 upgrade, you now have a “cockpit” for your research:
• Edit the Plan First: Before the AI starts browsing, it presents a proposed research plan. You can now review, add sub-topics, or delete irrelevant steps before it begins.
• Targeted Sources: You can limit research to specific websites or domains (e.g., only search reuters.com or scholar.google.com) or use Connected Apps (like Google Drive, Microsoft SharePoint, or FactSet) as trusted data sources.
• Real-Time Intervention: If you see the research going off-track, you can interrupt the session to add follow-up questions, provide new sources, or change the focus mid-run without restarting.
• Progress Tracking: A new sidebar allows you to follow along with the “agentic reasoning” as the AI decomposes your query and visits different sites.
2. Richer, Visual Outputs
The reports generated by GPT-5.2 are more than just text. They now function as interactive documents directly within the ChatGPT interface:
• Visual Data: Deep Research can now generate charts, tables, and visual summaries based on the data it finds across the web.
• Full-Screen Viewer: Reports now open in a dedicated document viewer featuring a Table of Contents on the left and Citations in a sidebar on the right.
• Comprehensive Methodology: Every report includes a “methodology” section explaining how the AI arrived at its conclusions and which sources it prioritized.
• Export Options: Once satisfied, you can export the final report as PDF, Word, or Markdown.
3. Pricing and Availability
As of mid-February 2026, the updated Deep Research is available as follows:
• ChatGPT Plus & Pro: Full access is rolling out now to these tiers.
• ChatGPT Business & Enterprise: Available now with enhanced security for connected organizational data stores.
• ChatGPT Go: Expected to receive limited access later this spring.
• ChatGPT Free: Limited “preview” versions of Deep Research may be available in supported regions.
