OpenAI just released Deep Research, their latest Pro-only feature based on o3. You only get 100 queries per month, but it should expand to Plus soon. Interesting timing since Google Gemini already has a similar feature that works pretty well and runs much faster.
Let’s break down what really matters between these two:
First, raw intelligence. o3 destroys every other available model because it was specifically built as a reasoning chain of thought model. Gemini does internal reasoning too, but nowhere near o3’s level. This means OpenAI’s version will be noticeably smarter for complex tasks, but you’ll wait longer for results.
Search methods are totally different too. OpenAI’s model acts like a human, visually scanning web pages to extract rich information and analyze images. Gemini probably just scrapes results – faster but misses visual nuances.
Feature-wise, OpenAI’s version can create charts and graphs using Python and pull images from websites into its reports. That’s huge for visual research. Gemini ties nicely into Google Docs for easy sharing and editing, which is pretty convenient.
Now for the practical part – cost. Gemini’s research feature comes with Google One subscriptions that many people already have. OpenAI’s version is locked behind their $200 Pro tier with that tight 100 message limit. Yes, they’re working on an o3-mini version with higher limits, but Gemini’s been running smoothly for months.
So here’s my take: If you’re already paying for ChatGPT Pro, their Deep Research edges out Gemini slightly. But if you’ve got Google One, Gemini handles most research tasks perfectly well – no need to shell out extra cash just for OpenAI’s version.
Related: Check out my analysis of the o3-mini model at https://adam.holter.com/o3-mini-and-o3-mini-high-released-prepare-for-a-wave-of-drug-related-memes/ for more context on OpenAI’s optimization plans.
