Field Guide · level 3 · Power features

When should you use deep research, and how do you check its report?

Use it when a question needs many sources. Then check the claims you rely on.

5 min · try it 10 min · as of Oct 2026

Bring this to your team · Team workshopsHands-on training on your team's own research reports. Get in touch

A report that looks finished

Ask a big question. A tidy report comes back, citations and all.

Plan, read, report

It plans its searches, reads many sources, then writes a report with citations. A desk researcher's first pass.

Many sources, or one fact?

Use it for a market, a supplier or a policy. For a quick lookup, OpenAI says chat may be faster.

Brief it, then fix the plan

Give it the question, what it's for and sources to prefer. Add a time window and the format. Then fix its plan.

A citation is where to check

Made up: the report says delivery times fell 40 percent. Its source says 40 percent of orders arrive next day.

Check the claims that matter

Pick three to five claims your decision rests on. Find each on its page, saying the same. Mark what you can't verify.

Which one for research?

Claude fits web plus work tools. My picks: ChatGPT to choose the sites. Gemini on a free plan, or for your own files.

Try it · 10 minutes · on your own work

Brief one public question

Nothing private. The run's wait is extra.

Brief it with the template.2 min
Fix the plan: cut one step, add one. In Claude, change the brief.2 min
Check three claims on their pages.5 min
Count how many held up exactly.1 min

A five-line brief to paste

Question: How do three project tools handle guest access?
For: a one-page note for my team.
Sources: official help pages first; skip ads and forums.
Time window: 2026 only.
Format: a short table, then a list of what you could not find.

Good looks likeThree claims checked on their pages, and the misses marked.

In your assistant · as of Oct 2026 · Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini

Start one, steer it, check it

Menus move often. Missing something? A rollout, your plan, country or admin may be why.

My pickMy pick for research: ChatGPT and Gemini. ChatGPT gives the most control over sources: you edit the plan and can name the sites. Gemini has Deep Research on its free plan, and Gemini Notebook for your own files. Claude's Research fits a question that mixes the web with your work tools.

Use the tool your company approves for company data. That rule comes before mine.

Claude

Calls it Research. Its page describes no plan step: put everything in the brief.

Start

/deep-research

Or “+”, then Research. On the older Chat and Cowork? Turn on web search, then “+”.

Steer

+thenConnectors

Switch on only what it should read. It can use them without asking each time.

Check

Citations

Open them before you rely on the report.

Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise; it can use up limits faster. On the phone it searches the web only.

ChatGPT

Calls it Deep research.

Start

/Deepresearch

Or “+”, then Deep research.

Steer

SitesthenManage sites

Limit its sources, describe the outcome, then edit its plan.

Check

Sources used

Its “sources used section for reference checking”.

Limited on Free and Go, expanded on Plus, most on Pro. On Enterprise, admins decide. Connected apps are read only.

Gemini

Calls it Deep Research.

Start

Add FilesthenDeep Research

In the text box.

Steer

SourcesthenEdit planthenStart research

Add Gmail or Drive if connected; to use only those, deselect Google Search.

Check

Open

Usually 5 to 10 minutes. Google's page doesn't say how sources are shown.

18 or over, with daily limits; higher on Google AI Pro or Ultra. Work accounts depend on the Workspace licence.

Quick check · three questions

Did it stick?

1You need one quick fact. Deep research?
The answer: C OpenAI says chat may be faster for quick lookups.
2When is a cited figure checked?
The answer: A A citation is a place to check, not a check.
3How do you keep ChatGPT deep research to sources you trust?
The answer: B Both controls are on OpenAI's own page.

0 of 3 answered

Only your own files?Side note

Skip deep research. Use a project in Claude or ChatGPT, or Gemini Notebook (NotebookLM's new name since 16 Jul 2026).

Look for what's missingSide note

Check each source's date and author: current and first-hand. Then ask for the case against.

Connectors in Claude's ResearchSide note

It can use connected tools such as Gmail without asking each time. Switch on only the connectors the question needs.

Sources, checked 16 Oct 2026Source

Product details as of Oct 2026, each line checked on the vendor's own page on 16 Oct 2026. Recheck by 16 Nov 2026. The 40 percent example and the guest access question are made up for this lesson.

Anthropic, Use research on Claude (read 16 Oct 2026)
Anthropic, Claude Cowork and chat are one Claude (/deep-research; read 16 Oct 2026)
Anthropic, When should I use web search, extended thinking, and research? (read 16 Oct 2026)
OpenAI, Deep research in ChatGPT (read 16 Oct 2026)
OpenAI, ChatGPT plans (deep research by plan; read 16 Oct 2026)
OpenAI, ChatGPT release notes (10 Feb 2026: named websites, plan editing; read 16 Oct 2026)
Google, Use Deep Research in Gemini Apps (read 16 Oct 2026)
Google, About Gemini models (work accounts and the Workspace licence; read 16 Oct 2026)
Google, NotebookLM is now Gemini Notebook, 16 Jul 2026 (read 16 Oct 2026)
Google, Learn about Gemini Notebook (read 16 Oct 2026)
Google, Google AI plans (Deep Research on the free plan; read 16 Oct 2026)

Free kitThe AI Fact-Check KitBring this to your teamTeam workshops · Get in touchBack to level 3, Power features

Use it when a question needs many sources. Then check the claims you rely on.

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