Web AI Search vs Deep Research

Which Feature Should You Use?

Deep Research has become one of our favorite features among AI models.

But with the progress of AI search engines, you can't help but wonder how relevant it still is. To investigate this issue, we decided to contrast these features and decide which is worth using in different cases for every creator and entrepreneur.

Here's everything you need to know about both:

• Best Tools for Web AI Search & Deep Research

• What and When You Should Use (+ Prompts)

• Real-World Examples & Case Studies

Get 20% OFF Full Access subscription!

How AI Search Works | Best Tools

AI search combines web crawling with natural language processing to understand your questions and generate human-like responses. These tools don't just match keywords; they comprehend the intent behind your query and pull relevant information from multiple sources.

The process typically works in three stages:

• First, the AI interprets your question.

• Then, it retrieves relevant information from its knowledge base or the web.

• Finally, it synthesizes this information into a response that addresses your query.

That’s how AI does the heavy lifting for you.

Key AI Search Players

Right now, you can find dozens of AI-based search engines. Some are tailored for specific scenarios, while others aspire to become “the new Google.” Nevertheless, if we take the most popular solutions (with which we have had long experience), here are your options with our takes:

ChatGPT has evolved from conversational AI into a capable search tool. It excels at providing nuanced answers and can follow complex instructions, though its web search capabilities are more recent additions.

If not only the relevance of the information you receive, but also the approach to wording matters to you, ChatGPT is a universal choice. In addition, OpenAI allows you to give your chatbot custom settings, which means you can pre-organize your search with specific topics without prompt engineering.

Perplexity AI was built from the ground up as an AI search engine. It provides clear citations alongside its answers and offers a dedicated research mode. Its strength lies in delivering comprehensive answers with transparent sourcing.

For the past year, Perplexity has been the most prominent AI search solution. But with numerous updates from competitors, it has noticeably lost ground. One of the few advantages is a good UI.

Google's Gemini integrates directly with Google's search infrastructure. This gives it access to recent and authoritative information, making it particularly strong for factual queries and current events.

Let's be honest, at launch Google's AI Overview was garbage. And even the company itself realized this, so it quickly disabled the feature. But now, with the release of Gemini 2.5, the king of search engines is back. Thanks to its ecosystem, Google is performing well.

Grok from xAI stands out for its real-time data access and conversational approach. It's designed to be more personality-driven and can handle queries with a touch of humor, though sometimes at the expense of depth.

By utilizing data collected by X, Grok is great for those who care about public opinion and social media discussion. While OpenAI, Perplexity, and Google sources will likely only see popular media, Grok will also highlight social media users' positions (and that's cool).

Claude (Anthropic) offers thoughtful, nuanced responses with its web search capabilities. It's particularly good at handling complex, multi-part questions and providing balanced perspectives.

Anthropic only recently entered the AI search market after the release of Claude 3.7 Sonnet. This product combines a great model with a search function to produce great results. However, it's only available on a subscription basis right now.

Share this post with friends, especially those interested in AI Insights!

AI Search in Day-to-Day Use

The primary advantage of AI Search is its efficiency. When you need quick answers or a general overview, these tools deliver results in seconds that would otherwise take minutes or hours.

This translates to significant time savings for creators when gathering information. Need to check a fact, understand a concept, or get a summary of recent developments in your industry? AI search tools can provide this info almost instantly.

These tools' conversational interfaces also make them more accessible than traditional search engines. You can ask follow-up questions, request clarification, or pivot to related topics without starting a new search.

However, there are limitations to be aware of. The convenience of AI search comes with trade-offs in terms of depth and nuance. You might need something more robust for decisions requiring understanding or to evaluate multiple perspectives in detail.

This is where Deep Research comes into play.

---

Deep Research | What You're Missing