Deep research: the researcher agent
Lesson 6 of 22 in the course “AI Agents for Life”. Free, with animations and a quiz.
How it works
A normal chat answers in seconds, using what it already knows or a couple of links. Deep research works differently. OpenAI launched it in February 2025: the agent searches, reads and combines hundreds of sources by itself, including PDFs and images, changes course when it finds something new, and sends a report in 5–30 minutes. Every claim comes with a citation, so you can check it. Similar research modes now exist in the other big assistants too. You set the task and go do your thing, and a notification arrives when the report is ready.
When it shines and when it doesn’t
Deep research is strong where you need to dig through piles of information: compare five laptops, choose a university, get your head around a new topic in an evening. OpenAI itself lists big purchases like a car, appliances or furniture among its examples. The company is also honest about the weak spots: the agent can make up a fact, struggles to tell reliable sources from rumours and often doesn’t show how unsure it is. So it’s no good for fresh gossip. For a simple fact it’s overkill: normal search will do it in a second.
The question is everything
The agent will dig for 20 minutes, and if the question is off, you get 20 minutes of work in the wrong direction. A four-part formula. Topic and why: not “a laptop” but “a laptop for studying design.” Limits: budget, country you’re buying in, weight, whether you only want this year’s models. Sources: manufacturers’ official sites and 2–3 big reviews, no sponsored round-ups. Format: a table and a three-line verdict. It’s the same brief from lesson three, just for research.
Not all sources are equal
The agent itself is bad at telling reliable from rumour, so the filter is on you again. A simple trust ladder. At the top: an official site or document, where prices and specs are most accurate. Next, research papers, then major outlets and big reviews with tests. Below: blogs and video reviews, useful, but sometimes sponsored. At the very bottom: forums, social media and “they say.” That doesn’t mean a forum always lies. It means an important fact from there needs backing from something higher up.
How to read the report
A report can run 15 pages, but you don’t have to read it all. Start with the verdict: does it answer your question? Then open the three citations under the most important claims and check they really say that. Look at the dates: a price from last year’s review isn’t a price anymore. And ask the question almost nobody asks: “What couldn’t you find or confirm?” A good agent will honestly list the gaps, and those are exactly what tell you what to check yourself.
Try it: the researcher agent
Liza spent two weeks drowning in reviews while choosing a laptop for uni. With the brief below it took one evening. Turn on research mode in your assistant if your plan has it, or just ask it to search the web, and paste the brief. Put in your own budget, country and tasks. Note the “never”: if a price isn’t on the official site, the agent writes “no data” instead of making one up. When the report arrives, read it using the steps from the last slide.
Check yourself
- Is deep research needed here?
Correct answer: No, a normal search or the uni’s website will do. A single simple fact from an official site takes seconds to find. 20 minutes of research here is overkill. - What should she do with this news?
Correct answer: Find confirmation on the company’s site or in a major outlet. A forum is at the bottom of the trust ladder, and OpenAI itself says the agent struggles to tell rumours from reliable sources. Important facts get confirmed higher up. - Which question gets the best report?
Correct answer: A city bike under $500, height 165 cm, compare 5 models in a table with links. Topic, limits, format and sources are set, so the agent spends 20 minutes digging in the right direction. - What should she ask the agent first?
Correct answer: “What couldn’t you find or confirm?”. The gaps show exactly what to check herself. A good agent will list them honestly.
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