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What AI models does ChatGPT Deep Research use?

ChatGPT Deep Research runs on GPT-5.2 Thinking (OpenAI), gpt-5.6 (OpenAI), gpt-6-astra (OpenAI), o3 (optimized version) (OpenAI) and o4-mini (lightweight version) (OpenAI), and routes requests between them.

Models used
5
Primary model
GPT-5.2 Thinking
Public API
Yes
Last checked
2026-09-12

Model claims are labelled by how we know them: GPT-5.2 Thinking — disclosed, gpt-5.6 — disclosed, gpt-6-astra — disclosed, o3 (optimized version) — disclosed and o4-mini (lightweight version) — disclosed. "Disclosed" means the vendor says so in public; "inferred" means it was derived from documentation, headers or release notes.

Context window: 196K tokens.

Other stack signals: OpenAI SDK, TypeScript SDK and Terraform provider.

Cite this answer

Tomorrow. “What AI models does ChatGPT Deep Research use?” Tomorrow AI & Emerging Tech Index, AlienSquad, updated 2026-09-12. https://tomorrow.aliensquad.ai/q/what-models-does-deep-research-use

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