iPhone users just got access to Gemini's Deep Research – how to try it

iPhone users can now tap into Google’s Deep Research agent to research a topic on their behalf. Added to the Gemini website in December and to the Android app last month, the tool is now making its way to the iPhone version. Be aware, though, that Deep Research is available only to Gemini Advanced users who pay $20 a month for the subscription.

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Deep Research is Gemini’s first agent, a new breed of AI bots that can perform tasks independently. Submit your request or question, and the agent browses the web independently without you having to direct or manage it each step of the way. OpenAI also has its own Deep Research tool, but that one is currently accessible only to ChatGPT Pro subscribers for $200 a month.

How Gemini’s Deep Research works

When you submit a prompt with a specific question or request, Gemini delivers the standard type of AI-generated information. Want more? Tell it to turn to Deep Research. After scouring the web for more data, Gemini provides you with a full and comprehensive report, listing all the sources it consulted.

To use Deep Research on an iPhone (or Android phone), download the app from the App Store or Google Play. Gemini Advanced is part of the Google One AI Premium plan. If you already subscribe, you’re good to go. If not, you can take it for a spin with a free one-month trial.

Launch the app and tap the heading for Gemini Advanced at the top. As a subscriber, you have access to all the latest models. But for this, you’ll want to select the one for 1.5 Pro with Deep Research.

Next, type or speak your query. In my case, I asked it for advice on health insurance plans for freelance contractors.

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In response, Gemini suggests a plan for tackling your topic. You can edit that plan and tell the AI what changes you’d like to see. Gemini then presents you with an updated plan. If you like the plan, tap the “Start Research” button to send the AI on its way around the web.

Depending on the complexity of the topic and how many websites are researched, you’ll likely have to wait at least a few minutes for the full report. At that point, tap the “Open” button for the report to read and review it.

The reports I received were well-organized and formatted with text, tables, and bullet points to make them easy to read. A list of all the researched websites appears at the bottom.

From the report, you can share it with someone else, open it in Google Docs, or select all the text. The conversation is saved to your chat history, so you can access the report at any time in the future.

Limitations

You’re able to kick off another request while one is already running, though Google limits how many you can run at the same time. You’re also limited in the number of requests you can submit per day. But you’ll be told if you’re bumping up against the quota.

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If you’re on the fence about shelling out the $20 a month for a Gemini Advanced subscription, Google offers other perks beyond Deep Research. With this plan, you also score 2TB of storage, Google Photos editing features, 10% back in Google Store rewards, Google Meet premium video calling features, and Gemini for Workspace.