Microsoft is making a bold move to reduce the cost of premium AI reasoning by providing what seems to be unlimited access to OpenAI’s o1 model through Copilot’s new “Think Deeper” feature at no charge. The key point here is the term “free. ” OpenAI launched the o1 model in December, with CEO Sam Altman stating it would be the most powerful model available. However, it came with a significant requirement: two paid subscriptions. OpenAI’s ChatGPT Pro is priced at $200 per month for unlimited access, while the ChatGPT Plus service, which costs $20 monthly, offers restricted access to the o1 model. On Wednesday, Mustafa Suleyman, Microsoft’s head of AI, announced that Copilot users would have “free” access to the o1 model everywhere. (Note: Microsoft has mentioned there may be some unidentified access limitations based on user volume. ) This access will be granted via the Copilot’s “Think Deeper” feature, which takes a few moments to analyze and research a question before providing a response. As the Copilot app on Windows is now a PWA (Progressive Web App), you can use it through the Copilot app or by visiting copilot. microsoft. com.

A Microsoft account is required for sign-in. The “Think Deeper” feature in Copilot functions like a toggle switch — ensure it’s “on” or highlighted before submitting your query. “Think Deeper” represents a more reflective iteration of Copilot, which has recently tended toward shorter, less detailed replies. However, it should not be mistaken for a search engine; Think Deeper indicates that its data is current only up to October 2023. Instead, Think Deeper excels at so-called evergreen research, such as linking the evaporation cycle to hurricane formation or analyzing historical events. It can also write code and explain its functionality; for example, a request to “Write a basic Windows application to create a maze based on the letters of the user’s first name” resulted in a comprehensive process for developing the application, generating custom C# source files after a short wait (though I have yet to test or implement this). Microsoft has not indicated any plans to charge for Think Deeper, whether through direct payments or subscriptions, nor has it suggested using a credit system that was secretly introduced as part of an enhanced Microsoft 365 subscription, which includes Copilot Plus. A Microsoft representative did not respond promptly to a request for comment.