Published on: March 1, 2025 / update from: March 1, 2025 - Author: Konrad Wolfenstein
Ai Deep Research Tools in the Hardest Test: Which Ki-Genius delivers deep knowledge? Openai, Perplexity or Google Gemini? - Image: Xpert.digital
Deep Research 2.0: The strengths and weaknesses of leading platforms
AI-based deep research in 2025: a comparative analysis of chatt, perplexity and gemini
The year 2025 marks a turning point in the way we are looking for, process and use information. Artificial intelligence (AI) has not only established itself as a tool for automating simple tasks, but has also entered a new era of the "Deep Research". This groundbreaking technology enables AI systems, complex, multi-stage research projects to edit independently, analyze a variety of sources and create structured, comprehensive reports. This progress has triggered an intensive competition between the leading AI platforms that strive to achieve the top in this future-oriented field.
There are currently three main actors in the focus of this technological revolution: Openai with Chatgpt Deep Research, Perplexity with its deep research function of the same name and Google with Gemini 1.5 Pro, which has also integrated deep research skills. Each of these platforms follows its own approach and offers unique strengths and functionalities. This detailed analysis aims to examine the respective advantages, weaknesses and potential areas of application of these three leading deep research tools in order to determine which system currently performs the most convincing performance and what future developments are to be expected.
The development of AI-based research: from simple search queries to deep research
In order to fully grasp the importance of deep research, it is helpful to consider the development of AI-based information procurement. In their beginnings, AI in the area of research was limited to simple tasks such as improving search engine algorithms and the automation of repetitive data acquisition and processing processes. Traditional search engines, such as Google Search or Bing, were and are still powerful, but they require the user to formulate the right search terms, to view the results and to extract and synthesize the relevant information themselves.
The next stage of the development produced AI Chatbots, which were able to answer naturally language questions and provide contextual information. Chatgpt in its original form was a pioneer in this area and demonstrated the potential of large voice models (LLMS) to conduct human -like conversations and to process complex inquiries. However, these chatbots were usually only able to access existing knowledge and were limited in their ability to independently research and analyze new information.
Deep Research now represents the next revolutionary step. It goes far beyond the mere answering of questions and enables AI systems to familiarize yourself with independently into complex topics, to consult different sources of information, to assess it critically and to summarize the results in a coherent, structured report. This ability to conduct research opens up completely new opportunities for experts, scientists, journalists, companies and anyone who needs reliable and comprehensive information.
Chatgpt Deep Research: The Premium research analyst
Openaai, the company behind Chatgpt, has positioned itself with Chatgpt Deep Research as a provider of premium AI solutions. The deep research function introduced in February 2025 aims to give users a tool that goes beyond the skills of a conventional chatbot and acts as a full-fledged "virtual research analyst". Driven by a highly developed and specialized version of the O3 model, which is considered the successor to GPT-4, Chatgpt Deep Research is designed to automate demanding, multi-stage research tasks and to provide results of the highest quality.
Performance and functionality in detail
In independent expert tests, Chatgpt Deep Research quickly established itself as a gold standard for thoroughness and detailed depth. The system is designed to not only provide superficial information, but also to dive deeply into the matter and to develop a comprehensive understanding of the respective topic. The reports that Chatgpt Deep Research generates are characterized by their detailed, clear structuring and the use of numerous serious sources. The tool is able to recognize complex relationships, to take different perspectives into account and carry out critical analyzes.
The process of deep research typically begins with a precise question or a research order from the user. Based on this input, Chatgpt Deep Research develops a detailed research plan that includes the various steps and sources that are necessary to answer the question. The system then works independently, searches the Internet for relevant information, analyzes it and synthesized it to a coherent report. Depending on the complexity of the topic, this process can take between 5 and 30 minutes.
The impressive performance of Chatgpt Deep Research was also underpinned by benchmarking tests. In the demanding "Humanity's Last Exam" benchmark, which tests experts in over 100 specialist areas, Chatgpt Deep Research achieved a record of 26.6 %. This not only exceeded all other AI models tested, but also represented a significant improvement compared to the previous GPT-4 model, which in the same test achieved 3.3 % less. These results indicate that Chatgpt Deep Research is able to think and analyze at a level that is close to the human expert in many departments.
Costs and accessibility: a premium offer with restrictions
Originally available exclusively for PRO users with a monthly subscription of $ 200, access was expanded to the following user groups on February 25, 2025:
Plus users ($ 20/month)
10 deep review queries per month. This enables a broad circle of users to experience the basic advantages of depth research without having to bear the high costs of a pro subscription.
Team/Enterprise/Education
10 queries per user and month. This regulation aims to provide organizations and educational institutions access and to promote the collaborative use of deep research in teams.
Pro user
Increasing the monthly deflection of 100 to 120 queries. For power users who regularly carry out extensive research, this is a welcome increase in capacity.
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Perplexity Deep Research: Deep Research for everyone
Perplexity has positioned itself as a challenger in the AI research market and chose a "democratic" approach that puts access to access and user-friendliness. In mid -February 2025, the company expanded its platform with "Deep Research", a function that also automates complex research, but sets a different focus in comparison to Chatgpt Deep Research.
Performance and speed: quick results with transparent sources
Perplexity Deep Research aims to create comprehensive reports at impressive speed. The system independently searches a variety of sources, including scientific databases, news articles, industry reports and other relevant sources of information. A special feature of perplexity is the transparent quotation that enables users to understand the origin of the information at any time. The reports created are clearly structured and contain precise source information for every paragraph and even for individual sentences.
With regard to the speed, Perplexity Deep Research clearly exceeds its competitors. Reports are usually generated within less than a minute, which makes it an ideal tool for users who need reliable information quickly. However, this speed is not necessarily at the expense of quality. In benchmarks such as the "Humanity's Last Exam", Perplexity Deep Research achieved a considerable value of 21.1 % and thus exceeded many other leading AI models, although it was left behind Chatgpt Deep Research.
Pricing and user -friendliness: free access and flexible subscriptions
The biggest advantage of perplexity lies in its accessibility. Perplexity as the only of the three providers examined here also provides its deep research functionality in the free basic version. Users can therefore try Deep Research without any costs and use it for easier research. However, in the free version there are daily inquiries to protect the system's resources.
For users who want unlimited access to Deep Research and additional premium functions, Perplexity offers a pro subscription for around 20 euros per month. This subscription not only includes unlimited deep research requests, but also access to more advanced AI models such as GPT-4O and Deepseek R1, which can offer an even higher performance and precision. This flexible pricing makes Perplexity Deep Research an attractive option for a wide user base, from occasional users to professional researchers.
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Google Gemini 1.5 Pro with deep research: integration into the Google ecosystem
Google, as one of the leading technology companies in the world, has integrated Deep Research into its advanced AI model Gemini 1.5 Pro. This step aims to create a seamless and efficient research solution within the existing Google ecosystem. The deep research function is accessible via Google's own chatbot Gemini by activating the setting "1.5 Pro with Deep Research".
Functionality and integration: Workflow optimization in the Google universe
Gemini 1.5 Pro with Deep Research is characterized by his focus on workflow integration and user-friendliness. The research process typically begins with entering a request by the user. Gemini then automatically creates a detailed research plan, which includes the different steps and sources that are relevant for answering the request. The user has the option of checking, adjusting or editing this plan before the actual research starts.
Gemini uses advanced AI algorithms to efficiently research complex topics and extract information from a variety of sources. The system is particularly strong in the processing and analysis of large amounts of data, which makes it ideal for the processing of complex topics such as scientific studies, market research reports or extensive document collections. An outstanding feature of Gemini is the deep integration into the Google ecosystem. With just one click, the entire deep research report can be exported to a Google document, which significantly simplifies the further processing, cooperation and archiving of the results. This seamless integration into Google Workspace makes Gemini a particularly attractive option for users who already use Google products intensively.
Performance and costs: balanced balance between quality and price
Gemini 1.5 Pro with Deep Research provides high -quality reports, which are usually somewhat shorter and more superficial than that of Chatgpt Deep Research, but still offer a high level of information. Gemini's strength is particularly in the processing of current information and access to a huge knowledge network, which is continuously updated by the Google search engine and other Google services. In addition, Gemini 1.5 Pro has an impressive context window of up to 1 million tokens, which makes it possible to process very extensive documents and discussions and carry out deep analyzes.
With regard to the costs, Gemini 1.5 Pro with Deep Research positions itself as a more affordable alternative to Chatgpt Deep Research. After activating a monthly subscription, the technology is available for around 20 euros, which makes it comparable to Perplexity Pro in terms of price, but is significantly cheaper than Chatgpt Deep Research. This balanced ratio of performance and costs makes Gemini an attractive option for users who are looking for a high-quality deep research solution without having to spend a premium budget.
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Comparative assessment of the three platforms: differences and similarities
In order to better understand the differences and similarities between Chatgpt Deep Research, Perplexity Deep Research and Gemini 1.5 Pro with Deep Research, it is helpful to compare the three platforms directly based on various criteria.
Quoter and source information: Focus on transparency
An important aspect when evaluating deep research tools is the way in which sources are cited and specified. A transparent and understandable citation is crucial for the credibility and verifiability of the researched information. In this area, the three platforms show different approaches:
Perplexity Deep Research
Perplexity is characterized by the most detailed citation. Source information is not only provided for every paragraph, but even for individual sentences. This more granular citation is perceived as particularly helpful by many users, since it enables precise tracking of the information origin.
Chatgpt Deep Research
Chatgpt presents quotes at the end of each section. In addition, it offers users the opportunity to access a complete list of all sources used in a separate bar. This method is somewhat less detailed than with perplexity, but still offers a good overview of the sources used.
Gemini 1.5 Pro with Deep Research
Gemini delivers quotes per paragraph with a fold -out source list. This method is a middle ground between the very detailed citation of perplexity and the more general method of chatgpt. The fold -out source list enables users to dive deeper into the sources if necessary.
Speed and response time: time is money
The speed at which deep research tools provide results is another important factor, especially for users who are under time pressure or need information quickly. In terms of speed, there are clear differences between the three platforms:
Perplexity Deep Research
Perplexity is by far the fastest of the three tools. Reports are usually generated in less than one minute. This high speed makes perplexity an ideal choice for quick research and situation -related information needs.
Gemini 1.5 Pro with Deep Research
Gemini usually needs about 1-2 minutes to create a report. This is slower than perplexity, but still an acceptable response time for most research tasks.
Chatgpt Deep Research
Chatgpt is the slowest of the three providers with a response time of 1-5 minutes. The longer processing time is probably due to the thoroughness and depth of detail of the reports that Chatgpt Deep Research generates. For users who set the highest quality and comprehensive analysis priority and are willing to wait a little longer, this may be an acceptable compromise.
Analysis of a case study: carbon pricing policy in a global context
In order to illustrate the practical strengths and weaknesses of the three platforms, a case study was analyzed: research on carbon pricing policy in a global context. This topic is complex and requires the consideration of different regional, economic and political factors. The results of this analysis showed interesting differences in the approach and the results of the three tools:
Gemini 1.5 Pro with Deep Research
Gemini offered a broad overview of carbon pricing policy worldwide. The tool provided general information on various approaches and their effects. However, regional details, especially for important regions such as India, were neglected. In addition, inconsistencies were cited, which made it difficult to understand some information.
Chatgpt Deep Research
Chatgpt produced a well -structured and detailed analysis of carbon pricing policy. The tool made clear comparisons between different political approaches and went into social and economic insights. However, some important challenges such as carbon leakage (relocating emissions to regions with less strict regulations) and the importance of international cooperation in this area were overlooked.
Perplexity Deep Research
Perplexity was characterized by precise source information and a profound regional analysis. In particular, the analysis of carbon pricing in China and India was detailed and well -founded. However, the structure of the report showed some weaknesses, with partially redundant content and a less sophisticated overall structure compared to chat.
This case study illustrates that every tool has its specific strengths and weaknesses. Gemini offers a good overview, but can have deficits in detail and regional cover. Chatgpt delivers comprehensive and well -structured analyzes, but can overlook certain aspects. Perplexity scores with precise source information and regional details, but has improvement potential in the structure and consistency of the reports.
Ideal use scenarios: Where does which tool shine?
Based on the strengths and weaknesses of the individual platforms, ideal use scenarios for each tool can be defined:
Chatgpt Deep Research
Chatgpt Deep Research is particularly suitable for users who have to research complex and multi -layered topics and want to take different perspectives into account. The ability of the tool to dive deeply into the matter and create comprehensive analyzes makes it ideal for demanding research projects. In addition, Chatgpt Deep Research can also serve as valuable support in brainstorming and ideas. Special use scenarios include:
Scientific research
Support in literature searches, analysis of complex studies, summary of research results.
Strategic planning and decision -making
Creation of comprehensive background analyzes for strategic decisions, evaluation of various options and scenarios.
Creative writing projects
Collection of information for screenplays, novels, non -fiction books or other creative texts, development of background material and character development.
Detailed theme analyzes
Research into complex political, economic or social topics, analysis of different perspectives and development of differentiated arguments.
Perplexity Deep Research
Perplexity Deep Research is the ideal tool for users who need fast, easily cited and verifiable information. The high speed and the transparent quotation make it particularly valuable for professional groups such as journalists, financial analysts and market researchers who need time -critical information. Perplexity is also ideal for everyday information needs and research in different areas of life. Special use scenarios include:
Journalistic research
Fast facts test, background research on current news, review of sources.
Financial analysis and market research
Procurement of current financial data, analysis of market trends, competitive analysis.
Technical research
Search for technical specifications, troubleshooting, information procurement for new technologies.
Biographical research
Compilation of information about people, historical events or companies.
Travel planning
Research on travel destinations, sights, accommodations and transport options.
Analysis of current topics
Fast information procurement and overview of current events and debates.
Gemini 1.5 Pro with Deep Research
Gemini 1.5 Pro with Deep Research is the best choice for users who already want to work intensively in the Google ecosystem and want to optimize their research workflows. The seamless integration into Google Workspace and the user -friendly interface make it an efficient tool for daily information procurement and processing. Gemini is particularly suitable for tasks that require close cooperation and the exchange of information within teams. Special use scenarios include:
Literature research in the academic context
Systematic search for scientific literature, organization and management of research results in Google Docs.
Competition analysis and market research in the company
Creation of competitive analyzes, market research reports and industry analyzes, easy passing on and cooperation to documents in Google Drive.
Project management and teamwork
Compilation of information for projects, creation of project reports and presentations, joint processing of documents in Google Workspace.
Research in the education sector
Support from students and students in lectures, homework and projects, promotion of research skills and critical thinking.
Efficient procurement of information in everyday work
Rapid answering questions, procurement of background information for meetings and presentations, optimization of information management.
Which deep research tool is the best?
The question of the "best" deep research tool in 2025 cannot be answered in a general way. The optimal choice depends heavily on the individual needs, the budget, the priorities and the specific application scenarios.
Deep Research with Chatgpt from Openaai
Chatgpt Deep Research is the first choice for users with professional demands and a corresponding budget who set the highest quality, thoroughness and depth of detail. It provides the most comprehensive and best structured reports with an impressive analytical ability. However, the premium price and the limitation of inquiries must be taken into account.
Perplexity Deep Research
Perplexity impresses with its accessibility, speed and transparent sources. It is the ideal choice for cost -oriented users who need quick results and value the traceability of the information. The free basic version makes it particularly attractive for casual users and those with a limited budget.
Gemini 1.5 Pro with Deep Research
Google convinces with its seamless integration into the Google ecosystem and offers a good compromise between performance and costs. It is an excellent choice for users who already use Google products intensively and are looking for an efficient workflow within Google Workspace.
Transforms AI our research?
It is important to emphasize that the technology of the AI-based Deep Research is in a rapid development process. All three providers are continuously working on improvements in their models, functions and user -friendliness. It is therefore to be expected that the performance and possible uses of these tools will improve even further in the future.
For the average user, perplexity is currently offering the best price-performance ratio with its free basic version and the affordable pro subscription. Depending on their specific requirements and priorities, professional users should choose between Chatgpt Deep Research and Gemini 1.5 Pro. The final decision should be based on careful consideration of the individual research needs, the available budget and the preferred ecosystem integration. The future of information procurement is undoubtedly shaped by AI-based deep research, and these three platforms are at the forefront of this exciting development.
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