Deep Research is now the new front AI platforms that are fighting on. It was textual capabilities before, then coding and reasoning (as late as early 2025, aka now), and now web-researching (or ‘deep research’) capabilities. But how big of a difference does deep research make compared to regular options? How useful is it for real-world applications? That’s what this article figures out. We take a case-based approach to analyzing the top three deep research platforms: Gemini 2.0, ChatGPT, and Perplexity, to see not only how they compare to one another but also how different they are from their ‘non-research’ options. But let’s first understand what deep research is.
What is Deep Research
“Deep Research” refers to advanced AI research functionalities that allow AI systems to autonomously conduct comprehensive, multi-step research tasks on behalf of users. Deep research emulates the processes of human researchers, analyzing and synthesizing information from various web sources to create detailed reports or insights for academic, research, or casual use cases.
A Deep Deep Research Comparison Between Gemini, ChatGPT, and Perplexity
First, let’s get an overview of all three:
Google Gemini
Google Gemini 2.0’s deep research is integrated into the Google Gemini AI, offering seamless access to services like Gmail, Drive, and Docs and the ability to browse web pages.
Gemini Deep Research Pros:
- Advanced Reasoning: Gemini demonstrates strong logical and deductive reasoning skills, particularly in handling complex, multi-step problems.
- Ecosystem Integration: Its tight integration with Google services enhances productivity, allowing users to efficiently manage tasks across various platforms.
Gemini Deep Research Cons:
- Infancy Stage: As a relatively new entrant, Gemini 2.0 is still evolving and may not yet match the maturity of some competitors in all areas.
- Subscription Cost: The advanced version, Gemini Advanced, is priced at $20 per month, which includes additional features like 2TB of Google One storage and enhanced AI capabilities.
ChatGPT
OpenAI’s ChatGPT is renowned for its versatility across a wide range of tasks, and its deep research capabilities don’t disappoint.
ChatGPT Deep Research Pros:
- Multimodal Capabilities: ChatGPT can process and generate various forms of content, including text and images, making it a flexible tool for diverse applications.
- Adaptability: Its ability to handle tasks ranging from creative writing to code debugging caters to a broad spectrum of user needs.
ChatGPT Deep Research Cons:
- Information Accuracy: Users may encounter occasional inaccuracies or “hallucinations,” necessitating careful verification of generated content.
- Subscription Fee: Access to advanced features requires a $20 monthly subscription, which may be a consideration for budget-conscious users.
Perplexity AI
Perplexity AI is the ‘original’ deep research chatbot. It’s an AI-powered search engine, combining LLMs with extensive internet search capabilities.
Perplexity Deep Research Pros:
- Source Transparency: It provides cited sources for its responses, offering verifiable information and enhancing credibility.
- Pro Version Features: For $20 per month, the Pro version offers access to advanced models like GPT-4o and DeepSeek R1, improving the depth and accuracy of responses.
Perplexity Deep Research Cons:
- Subscription Cost: The Pro version’s monthly fee may be a barrier for some users.
- Reliance on External Sources: Dependence on external information can sometimes lead to outdated or inaccurate responses if the sources themselves are not current.
Now that we know a bit about the deep research in Gemini, ChatGPT, and Perplexity, it’s time to compare them.
Head-to-Head: Who Comes Out on Top?
In the battle of wits, each AI brings something unique to the table. Gemini flexes its muscles in logic and reasoning, often outperforming its rivals in simple deductive tasks. Perplexity shines in its ability to provide well-cited, in-depth responses, making it a boon for researchers and students. While ChatGPT holds its ground as an overall well-rounded option with the best of both worlds. Here’s a detailed table for comparison:
| Feature | Gemini 2.0 with Deep Research | ChatGPT Deep Research | Perplexity Deep Research |
| AI Model | Gemini 2.0 Pro/Flash | A ver. of OpenAI o3-mini | GPT-4o/DeepSeek R1 |
| Dynamically adjusts research approach | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Context Window | Up to 2 million tokens | Varies by model | Unspecified |
| Key Technologies | MoE, Transformer, GShard-Transformer | Reinforcement learning, multi-modal processing, Python Integration | Advanced AI algorithms and web researching |
| Marketing Emphasis | Personal AI research assistant, saving time and effort | Independent research capabilities, replacing human analysts | Designed to give users the tools to do extensive research in just minutes, a Google alternative |
| Target Audience | Graduate students, entrepreneurs, marketers | Professionals in finance, science, policy, engineering | Particularly well-suited for finance, marketing, and technology research |
| Key Selling Points | Automated research, comprehensive reports, ease of use | Detailed reports, citations, summaries, speed, cost savings | Automatically conducts comprehensive research, performing dozens of searches and analyzing hundreds of sources to produce detailed reports in one to two minutes |
| Interface | Accessed through the Gemini web app | Dedicated button in ChatGPT web interface | Web browsers, with iOS, Android, and Mac versions planned |
| User Input | Enter research question, review/modify research plan | Upload context files, provide parameters | Enter a query to receive comprehensive answers |
| Output Format | Comprehensive report with key findings and source links, exportable to Google Docs | Reports with bullet points, tables, subheadings | Detailed reports exportable as PDFs or shareable via Perplexity Pages |
| Limitations | Tends to be overly broad in source selection; research plans are challenging to modify | May occasionally generate inaccurate data, struggle with source reliability assessments, occasional inaccuracies and difficulties distinguishing authoritative information from rumors, formatting errors, and longer wait times compared to standard ChatGPT responses | Can miss key details, struggle with recent information, and sometimes invent facts |
| Accuracy | N/A | 6.6% on Humanity’s Last Exam | 21.1% on “Humanity’s Last Exam,” outperforming several other models |
| Pricing | @$20/month | For ChatGPT Pro users, with a limit of 100 queries per month | Basic access is free, with daily query limits for non-subscribers. 300+ Pro searches per day for $20 per month |
| Speed | ~1-2 minutes | 1-5 minutes to generate a response | Produces detailed reports in under one minute |
Gemini 2.0 and ChatGPT’s deep research both utilize the Mixture-of-Experts (MoE) architecture, highlighting a trend in advanced AI research. While ChatGPT Deep Research is geared towards independent research and potentially replacing human analysts, Gemini 2.0 Pro focuses on augmenting researchers’ abilities and saving them time. Perplexity Deep Research distinguishes itself with its rapid analysis of numerous sources, generating comprehensive reports quickly.
Key differences also lie in accuracy, availability, and pricing. Perplexity deep research demonstrated higher accuracy on a specific benchmark. Availability varies, with each platform having different access points and future plans. Pricing models also differ, catering to various user needs and budgets, from free tiers to premium subscriptions.
Best Use Cases for Gemini, ChatGPT, and Perplexity Deep Research:
- Google Gemini: Best for users embedded in the Google ecosystem who want to streamline their research workflows using Gemini’s deep research features for tasks like literature reviews, competitive analysis, or market research, directly within their existing Google Workspace.
- ChatGPT: Suitable for users exploring complex topics and needing diverse perspectives or brainstorming assistance. ChatGPT’s deep research capabilities can be used to gather information for creative writing projects, develop background material for scripts, or analyze different angles on a subject for nuanced arguments.
- Perplexity AI: Ideal for researchers, journalists, and anyone requiring fast, well-cited, and verifiable information. Its deep research excels at quickly synthesizing information from numerous sources, providing comprehensive reports, and ensuring accuracy through source linking, making it perfect for due diligence, fact-checking, and in-depth investigations.
Now it’s case-study time.
Deep Research Case Study: Gemini vs ChatGPT vs Perplexity
To assess the deep research performance of Gemini, ChatGPT, and Perplexity, we provided the following prompt:
Prompt: Write an analytical report on the global impact of carbon pricing policies on national economies and emissions reduction efforts using accurate sources from the web. Compare and contrast the effectiveness of carbon pricing mechanisms such as carbon taxes and cap-and-trade systems in countries like the United States, China, and India. Consider the social, economic, and environmental factors in each region, and discuss any unintended consequences or challenges. Make sure all the information is sourced from accurate and reputed resources.
The platforms were evaluated based on their ability to:
- Synthesize information from multiple reputable sources.
- Provide a detailed and structured analysis.
- Accurately cite sources within the text.
- Address the complexities of carbon pricing mechanisms and their regional impacts.
First of all, here’s what the interface for each platform looks like:
ChatGPT and Perplexity let you manually select the ‘deep research’ option.
Citation Style of Gemini, ChatGPT, and Perplexity
They all have distinct citation styles. It’s a matter of taste. Here’s a look:
Google Gemini offers per-para citations, with a list of sources that can be toggled down.
The citations are more interesting in ChatGPT’s case. The overall presentation in your writer’s opinion is better as compared to Gemini’s. Besides having a citation at the end of each passage, ChatGPT also lets you open the entire list of citations used for the output in a separate bar, as you can see below:
Perplexity’s approach to citations might be considered the best of the bunch. It adds a source for each para and sentences in between, as you can see below:
This might be considered more useful by many. But what do the overall results say? Let’s see.
The Results
All three generated the report with distinct strengths and weaknesses. Gemini offered a broad overview of carbon pricing mechanisms and synthesized data well, but it missed regional details, especially for India, and lacked consistent citations. ChatGPT produced a well-structured analysis with clear comparisons and detailed social and economic insights, though it overlooked challenges like carbon leakage and international cooperation. Perplexity stood out for its accurate sourcing and in-depth regional analysis, particularly for China and India, but its structure was less polished, with some repetitive content.
You can try that same prompt for yourself you see the results.
FAQ
Are these AI search tools free to use?
All three offer free versions with limited capabilities. Premium features typically cost around $20 per month.
Can these AIs replace traditional search engines?
While they offer advanced capabilities, they’re best used as complementary tools rather than complete replacements for now.
How accurate are the responses from these AI tools?
Accuracy varies, with Perplexity AI generally providing the most reliable, cited information. Always verify important facts independently.
Can I use these AI tools for academic research?
They can be valuable for initial research and brainstorming but should not be relied upon exclusively for academic work.
How do these AI tools handle privacy concerns?
Privacy policies vary; users should review each platform’s terms carefully before sharing sensitive information.
I don’t wish to use deep research, what are some of the best non-deep research options?
If text and coding are your priority, you can consider Bind AI. It offers all GPT, Claude, and even DeepSeek models and integration with Google Drive and GitHub repos.
The Bottom Line
Deep Research is an exciting step forward in AI. It goes beyond simple text generation and offers detailed, multi-step investigations. Google Gemini works well with the Google ecosystem and uses advanced reasoning to provide broad, contextual insights. ChatGPT is known for its creative output and strong multimodal capabilities. Perplexity stands out for its accuracy and transparency by providing well-cited sources. Each platform serves different needs—whether you want easy integration, creative flexibility, or precise information. The choice depends on what you need for your research and application.