Why this matters
Choosing software or a supplier means reading pricing pages, help docs and billing fine print for every option, then writing it up for whoever signs off. Most people stop halfway and pick the name they know.
Deep research does the reading. In this module’s real run it took 5 minutes, ran 173 searches and cited 21 sources, mostly the vendors’ own pricing pages and help articles.
You write one brief, approve the research plan, read a recommendation with its risks, check a citation yourself and export a report you can forward.
What you’ll build
A cited report comparing Harvest, Toggl Track and Clockify (real products) for Harbor Lane Studio (a made-up 12-person design studio): price for 12 users, each need as yes or no with a source, billing terms, one risk per tool, a recommendation and five demo questions.
The report exported as a PDF, with a citation you opened and checked on the vendor’s own site.
What you need
- Nothing to start the practiceChatGPT and the report are a practice copy of the real run on October 20, 2026.
- A ChatGPT plan with Deep research, to do it for realDeep research comes with a monthly allowance that depends on your plan. It isn’t offered in a Temporary Chat.
- Your needs and budgetThree to five must-haves, a budget and the team size. Real vendor names; your company can stay anonymous.
Concepts
3 ideas you’ll use in the practice.
A four-part brief
Who you are, what to compare, your must-haves and budget, and what the report must contain. End with “Cite every price and feature claim.”
The vendors must be real, because Deep research searches the public web. Your own company can be described without names.
Read the plan before it runs
ChatGPT shows its research plan with Edit, Cancel and Start. Fixing the plan is free; a wasted run uses one of your monthly runs.
Spot-check the sources
Click a citation number to open the Sources list, then open the vendor’s page and confirm the price. Prices change; the page is the truth and the report is the summary.
Practice
Do every step yourself in a practice copy of the real tool. It checks your work, and “Do it for me” finishes any step you get stuck on.
Do it for real
Now repeat it in your own account. Tick each step as you go.
Downloads
- The real Deep research report (Markdown)The full report from the October 20, 2026 run, exported with Copy contents. Prices were current that day.
Quick check
3 questions to check you’ve got it.
1. Why must the vendors in the brief be real?
- Deep research searches the public web
- ChatGPT refuses made-up names
- It costs less
Show the answer
Deep research searches the public web. It can only find what is published. Your own company can stay anonymous.
2. What should you do before clicking Start?
- Nothing, it is always right
- Read the plan and edit it if a step is wrong
- Turn on Temporary chat
Show the answer
Read the plan and edit it if a step is wrong. Fixing the plan is free; a wasted run uses one of your monthly runs.
3. The report says Harvest is $132 a month. What do you do before quoting it to your boss?
- Nothing, it has a citation
- Open the citation and check the vendor’s pricing page
- Ask ChatGPT again
Show the answer
Open the citation and check the vendor’s pricing page. And here the report itself warns that usage charges can add to the seat price.
ChatGPT Work: Have ChatGPT Do a Multi-Step Task
Deep research reads the web for you. Next, ChatGPT Work goes further: it runs a multi-step task across your own apps, with an approval before anything is sent.
Start module 14 →