ChatGPT's Top 3 Features: Deep Research, Image Generation, and Projects

ChatGPT has evolved beyond simple text generation, offering advanced tools that help users conduct research, create visuals, and organize complex tasks efficiently. This article explores the top 3 ChatGPT features—Deep Research, Image Generation, and Projects—demonstrating how each one can streamline your workflow and elevate your results.

If you’re looking to maximize efficiency, understanding these 3 ChatGPT features—Deep Research, Image Generation, and Projects—will help you work smarter and accomplish more.

Table of contents:

• Deep Research: Get Reliable, Structured Answers

  • How to Use Deep Research

• Image Generation: Transform Ideas into Visuals

  • How to Use Image Generation

• Projects: Organize and Manage Complex Tasks

  • How to Use Projects

• Comparison Table: ChatGPT Features at a Glance

• Conclusion

Deep Research: Get Reliable, Structured Answers

Research can be time-consuming and overwhelming, especially when information is scattered across countless sources. The Deep Research feature redefines how you approach gathering information by delivering comprehensive, well-organized reports in response to your specific questions.

When you submit a focused research prompt, ChatGPT:

• Analyzes your request using extensive, current knowledge bases.

• Compiles detailed reports that include relevant details and properly cited sources.

This approach provides clarity and saves time, whether you’re exploring a niche industry, assembling academic references, or breaking down complex technical topics. Deep Research ensures you receive coherent, ready-to-use information tailored to your needs.

Where Deep Research excels:

• Conducting competitive market analysis for businesses evaluating competitors.

• Supporting academic projects that require credible, well-sourced material.

• Explaining technical subjects with depth and clear organization.

Pro tips:

• Craft precise prompts to receive more relevant and insightful responses.

• Request citations to verify information or pursue further reading.

How to Use Deep Research

1. Open Deep Research: In ChatGPT, choose the Deep Research option when starting a new query.

2. Enter a Clear Question: Type a focused research prompt (for example, “market overview of electric vehicles in 2025” or “literature review on renewable energy storage”).

3. Upload Any Relevant Files: If you have documents, spreadsheets, or notes that matter, upload them so ChatGPT can reference them.

4. Set Parameters: If prompted, specify details like date range, region, or subtopics to narrow the scope.

5. Connect External Sources (Optional): If you want ChatGPT to access private data (e.g., a GitHub repo or internal database), authorize the connector.

6. Run the Research: Start the process and wait while ChatGPT gathers, reads, and synthesizes information. This can take several minutes depending on complexity.

7. Watch Progress: You may see a sidebar or updates showing which steps are being taken and what sources are checked.

8. Review the Report: Once finished, you’ll get a structured summary with key findings and source references.

9. Follow Up: Ask follow-up questions or request deeper dives on specific parts, either in the same session or by refining your prompt and running again.

Image Generation: Transform Ideas into Visuals

Sometimes, words alone aren’t enough to convey your ideas. ChatGPT’s Image Generation feature allows you to create custom visuals without any design background, making it easy to illustrate concepts or enhance your content.

To use Image Generation:

• Clearly describe the image you want to create; no artistic skills are necessary.

• Optionally, upload a reference image to guide the process.

• Interactively refine the generated image until it aligns with your vision.

This feature generates tailored visuals based on your input, adapting to your feedback and ensuring the final result matches your expectations.

Practical applications for Image Generation:

• Designing engaging visuals for presentations or reports.

• Creating original artwork for marketing materials or blog posts.

• Producing sample designs or concept art for new products (a “mockup” is a preliminary visual model used to demonstrate an idea).

Pro tips:

• Include specific details in your description to achieve the best results.

• Experiment with different prompts to explore creative possibilities.

How to Use Image Generation

1. Activate Image Mode: In ChatGPT, switch to the image-generation option (often by choosing the GPT-4o image model).

2. Describe What You Want: Write a prompt that explains the scene, style, colors, text, or any other details (e.g., “A clean infographic showing quarterly sales growth with icons and labels”).

3. Upload a Reference (Optional): If you have an example image or style guide, upload it so the model can match colors, layout, or design elements.

4. Generate the Image: Send the prompt and wait briefly for ChatGPT to produce one or more image options.

5. Inspect the Result: View the image at full size to check that it meets your needs (readability, composition, style).

6. Ask for Adjustments: Provide feedback like “lighten the background,” “add a title at the top,” or “use a minimalist icon style,” and send a follow-up prompt.

7. Iterate: Continue refining until the image matches your vision.

8. Save or Use: Download or copy the final image for your presentation, report, website, or social media.

9. Mind Guidelines: Stay within content policies and, if you have brand rules, include style notes (colors, fonts) in your prompt so the output stays consistent.

Projects: Organize and Manage Complex Tasks

Handling multiple assignments and conversations can quickly become disorganized. The Projects feature in ChatGPT offers a structured environment to keep your information, files, and discussions in one accessible place.

Within a Project, you can:

• Set up a dedicated space for each significant task or objective.

• Attach files, add notes, and save related prompts for easy reference.

• Return to your project at any time, maintaining continuity and context.

Projects help prevent information from becoming fragmented or lost. Whether you’re collaborating with a team or managing a solo project, this feature keeps everything organized and within reach.

Projects in practice:

• Overseeing detailed design or research initiatives.

• Coordinating with colleagues in a secure, organized setting.

• Tracking progress, resources, and ideas across multiple assignments.

Pro tips:

• Regularly update your project notes and files to ensure information stays current.

• Use privacy settings to control who can access or edit your project spaces.

How to Use Projects

1. Create a New Project: In the ChatGPT sidebar or home screen, click on “Projects” or “New Project,” and give it a clear name (e.g., “Q3 Marketing Plan”).

2. Set Goals and Instructions: Write a short description of the project’s purpose. Add any custom instructions (for instance, “Use a formal tone” or “Focus on competitor benchmarks”).

3. Group Chats: Start new chat threads inside the Project or drag existing relevant chats into it so all related discussions stay together.

4. Upload Reference Files: Add documents, spreadsheets, images, or PDFs that ChatGPT should use as background information.

5. Pick the Right Model: For each chat, choose the suitable model (e.g., GPT-4, GPT-4 Turbo, GPT-4o) based on the task’s complexity or cost considerations.

6. Enable Memory: Make sure memory (if available) is turned on so ChatGPT remembers project-specific details across sessions, reducing repeated instructions.

7. Collaborate (When Applicable): On team accounts, invite collaborators or set permissions so the right people can view or edit the project content.

8. Search Within the Project: Use the built-in search to quickly find past messages, notes, or file excerpts without leaving the project.

9. Use Integrated Tools: From inside the project, you can run Deep Research that combines uploaded files with web data, or use voice mode if supported, keeping everything in context.

10. Review and Clean Up: When the project is done, archive it to declutter or delete it if no longer needed, while keeping any records you need for auditing or future reference.

Comparison Table: Top 3 ChatGPT Features at a Glance

Conclusion

By leveraging Deep Research, Image Generation, and Projects, you can streamline your workflow, enhance creativity, and maintain organization. These top 3 ChatGPT features empower you to achieve more with less effort.