ChatGPT for Research

ChatGPT is used to turn vague questions into a research plan, quickly scanning multiple sources to organize results into outputs with evidence and citations. From quickly getting your bearings to complex multi-step investigations, it can all be handled within the same flow.

Search is suited for quickly gathering the latest information. It pulls material from the web and summarizes it along with sources, making it good for first understanding the situation before moving to the next step.

Deep research works by breaking a question into multiple sub-questions, collecting and evaluating material along each axis, then merging everything into a single structured document. It's especially suited for outputs that are easy to review and share, such as briefs, memos, comparison tables, and annotated bibliographies.

To get better results, rather than asking for the final output right away, it's better to first request a research outline. Sub-questions, a sourcing strategy, and evaluation criteria should be set first, citations must be attached to key claims, and gaps and uncertainties should also be surfaced separately.

For practical use, prompts like the following are useful.

• A one-page brief
• A competitor comparison table
• A PDF-based literature review
• A policy/regulatory scan
• Tracking market signals

The key is not just speed but verifiability. Using ChatGPT, you can move faster from a research draft to a conclusion, while also managing the evidence and limitations together.