Outcome: a structured, cited report on a complex topic instead of hours of manual searching.

  1. Open ChatGPT and click the “+” tools menu.
  2. Select “Deep Research” from the options.
  3. Write a specific, detailed research question, not a vague one-liner.
  4. Attach any relevant files (PDFs, spreadsheets) if you want them included.
  5. Review and edit the research plan ChatGPT proposes before it starts.
  6. Let it run, it can take 5 to 30 minutes, so step away and you’ll be notified when it’s ready.
  7. Review the cited report, verify key claims against the original sources, and export as PDF if needed.

Sample prompt: Research [topic]. Compare the leading perspectives, note where sources disagree, and summarize the most reliable findings with citations.

Pro tip: Attach any files you already have, ChatGPT will fold them into the research alongside the web sources.

Next