Final September, OpenAI introduced the o1-series AI fashions that are designed to spend extra time considering earlier than they reply. These fashions motive via advanced duties and might resolve more durable issues than different main AI fashions in science, coding, and math. Later, in October, Microsoft introduced a brand new Copilot function for Professional plan customers referred to as Assume Deeper which makes use of OpenAI’s o1 reasoning fashions to assist customers resolve powerful issues.

Earlier this yr, Microsoft made the Assume Deeper function accessible to all Copilot customers totally free, albeit with preliminary utilization limits. This function prioritizes in-depth, step-by-step options to advanced queries, leading to longer response instances in comparison with customary Copilot interactions. As a result of optimistic person suggestions, Microsoft later eliminated these utilization limits, successfully offering unrestricted entry to OpenAI’s reasoning mannequin.

OpenAI’s o3-mini is their newest, most cost-effective mannequin. With total intelligence corresponding to the OpenAI o1 mannequin, o3‑mini delivers quicker efficiency and improved effectivity. OpenAI gives the o3-mini mannequin to free ChatGPT customers, working at medium settings. Paid ChatGPT plan customers can choose o3-mini-high from the mannequin picker. Nonetheless, ChatGPT Professional subscribers take pleasure in limitless entry to each o3-mini and o3-mini-high.

As we speak, Microsoft introduced an enhancement to the Copilot Assume Deeper function, now powered by OpenAI’s most up-to-date o3-mini-high mannequin. Basically, Microsoft is extending entry to a reasoning mannequin equal to ChatGPT Professional’s capabilities to all Copilot customers, without charge.

Assume Deeper simply obtained smarter. Now powered by o3-mini-high free in Copilot. Meaning more energizing insights, extra related solutions, and AI that retains up with the world, proper whenever you want it.

— Yusuf Mehdi (@yusuf_i_mehdi) March 6, 2025

This transfer by Microsoft democratizes entry to highly effective AI reasoning instruments for a wider viewers. Nonetheless, Copilot faces a person acquisition problem towards ChatGPT regardless of its free entry to superior AI fashions, main Microsoft to make use of promotional ways inside Bing, particularly throughout searches for rival AI assistants.