Welcome to the latest edition of The Neural Link!
In February, we saw AI move faster than ever. OpenAI launched Deep Research, making information gathering effortless, while the global AI race intensified with the US, Europe, and China clashing over regulations.
Back home, Australian businesses are going all-in on AI, but is the government keeping up? Meanwhile, Elon Musk made headlines—dropping Grok 3 and eyeing a takeover of OpenAI.
From legal crackdowns to billion-dollar bets, here’s what shaped AI this past month—and what’s next.
Let’s dive in!
🔎 Top story - ChatGPT’s Deep Research: A game-changer for finding reliable information
In February, OpenAI introduced Deep Research, a new feature for ChatGPT paid users that transforms how we conduct research online. This tool allows users to generate well-structured, multi-source reports in minutes—a process that would otherwise take hours. Whether you need to review academic literature, analyse industry trends, or summarise policy debates, Deep Research does the heavy lifting for you.
What Is Deep Research?
Deep Research is powered by OpenAI’s latest model, optimised for autonomous, multi-step research. Unlike a simple web search, it can explore multiple sources, analyse text and images, and compile findings into structured reports. Instead of skimming through endless articles, users get cohesive, source-backed insights at their fingertips.
For example, when asked about the molecular basis of lung cancer, Deep Research produced a comprehensive summary of biomarkers and emerging treatments, complete with a structured table of clinical significance. A mathematics professor used it to perform a literature search on network sheaves, receiving an accurate, well-organised report in minutes.
According to OpenAI, educators are already using Deep Research to quickly gather information and enhance their lesson planning, saving time on what would otherwise be manual, tedious work.
Experts are impressed
Deep Research has also caught the attention of industry professionals. One expert was stunned when the tool generated a 15,000-word building code checklist for a 100,000-square-foot educational building in under 30 minutes—a task that would take a human researcher six to eight hours.
It has already proven useful in domains such as legal research, scientific analysis, and policy evaluation, where gathering, verifying, and structuring information is often a time-intensive process.
How to use Deep Research wisely
Despite its power, Deep Research isn’t perfect—and using it effectively requires critical thinking. For example, in helping with the research for this month’s newsletter, it found some stories that were from last year rather than February as instructed, but it still sped up our research process.
Here’s how to ensure you get reliable results:
- Verify sources – Follow every link to confirm that the citations are accurate.
- Look for hallucinations – Read every line carefully. AI can sometimes fabricate plausible-sounding but incorrect information.
- Test it on topics you know – Before trusting Deep Research, try it on subjects where you’re an expert. This will help you understand its strengths and weaknesses.
- Be sceptical first – Good-looking output doesn’t always mean correct output. Start with healthy scepticism, then embrace it as a research assistant once you know its limits.
Deep Research is not designed to predict the future, but it excels at analytical and fact-based research. Approach it as a time-saving research assistant, not an infallible expert.
Who can use Deep Research?
Deep Research is currently available to ChatGPT Pro, Plus, Team, and Enterprise users, with a broader rollout planned soon.
If you’re looking for a way to speed up complex research while maintaining credible sources, this could be a game-changer. Just remember: AI is a powerful tool, but you still need to think critically.
🚀 The global AI battle: US, Europe & China square off
At a Paris summit, US Vice President JD Vance called out Europe's strict AI regulations, warning they could smother innovation. Meanwhile, China’s DeepSeek AI is making waves globally, challenging American dominance in the chatbot space. As regulatory debates heat up, businesses are watching closely—will tighter laws slow AI development, or is this the guardrail the industry needs?
⚖️ NSW Supreme Court draws a line on AI in law
The NSW Supreme Court just dropped the hammer on AI in legal proceedings. New restrictions ban AI-generated affidavits, witness statements, and character references, citing concerns over accuracy and big tech’s growing influence. While AI can still be used for legal research, lawyers must verify every citation. This move signals a cautious approach to AI in high-stakes decision-making. Could other industries follow suit?
💰 Federal budget: Is Australia missing the AI train? 
The Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA) has raised alarms about Australia’s slow AI adoption. With global AI investment skyrocketing, the AIIA is pushing for government-backed AI R&D and an AI Centre of Excellence. Without serious investment, businesses fear Australia could lag in the global AI race. Will the federal budget deliver the needed boost?
📈 AI investment boom: 32% of Australian businesses going all-in
A new report reveals that nearly one-third of Australian businesses are gearing up to invest in AI in 2025. From automating finance tasks to revolutionising logistics, AI is shifting from a shiny new toy to a must-have business tool. Companies betting on AI now are expected to gain a competitive edge in efficiency and customer engagement.
🚀Elon Musk’s xAI launches Grok 3 & offers to buy OpenAI
Elon Musk’s AI company, xAI, has launched Grok 3, claiming it beats OpenAI’s GPT-4o and Anthropic’s Claude 3.5 in key performance tests. Grok 3 includes improved reasoning, faster versions, and new beta features like DeepSearch and Voice Mode.
Meanwhile, Musk has reportedly offered to buy OpenAI—the company he co-founded but later sued for straying from its original mission. This move shows he’s still determined to influence the future of AI.
Read more here:
xAI Grok 3 Launch | Musk’s Offer to Buy OpenAI
Other News in AI
🏦 BNY Mellon x OpenAI
The banking giant is doubling down on AI, integrating OpenAI’s models to boost efficiency and client services.
⚡Perplexity AI’s ‘Deep Research’
AI-generated reports in 2-4 minutes? Perplexity AI is making expert analysis ultra-fast.
🤖 Claude 4 vs. ChatGPT
Anthropic’s Claude 4 is set to challenge OpenAI’s latest models with enhanced reasoning and web search support.
🔗 Read more
🤝Google-Poland AI partnership
Google is investing in Poland to drive AI adoption across cybersecurity, health, and energy sectors.
🔗 Read more
That’s your AI business briefing for the month! Stay ahead of the game with the latest innovations, industry shifts, and key trends. More updates coming soon—stay tuned for what’s next!
Until next time.
Matt Dunn
Head of Automation and AI
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