What Is OpenAI’s New ‘Lightweight’ Research Tool for Free Users? All You Need To Know

The OpenAI 'Lightweight' Research tool: OpenAI has introduced a new feature that provides free ChatGPT users with access to a "lightweight" deep research tool, assisting them in searching, summarizing, and comprehending information more quickly. 

This feature is interpreted as a step towards making AI-driven research available to students, professionals, and enthusiasts alike.

What is this new lightweight tool?

This light research utility is a streamlined version of the heavy research features offered only to paid accounts in the past. It enables free users of ChatGPT to explore more deeply into intricate subjects, ask follow-up questions, and receive condensed answers from various sources all within one chat.

Rather than merely providing a straight answer, the tool now provides richer context and enables users to explore topics such as science, history, technology, and beyond. It's intended to replicate the way that a human researcher would gather and distil information from a group of documents or websites.

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Open AI Lightweight Research Tool: Why is it important?

As stated by OpenAI, the aim is to enable "deep reasoning and understanding" while maintaining the interface as quick and intuitive. The tool may read articles, extract insights, and even cite sources, a functionality particularly handy for students and content developers who would like to have credible information.

The step comes as OpenAI competes with growing pressure from Google's Gemini and Meta's AI-based tools. With this update, OpenAI is evidently positioning its free option to upgrade and draw in more users to ChatGPT.

Open AI Lightweight Research Tool: How can the user access it?

The feature is being rolled out slowly to free users of ChatGPT with the GPT-3.5 model. Users do not have to download anything—it will be an option within their normal chat interface. Paid customers of GPT-4 Turbo already have even more capable features, but this closes the gap.