Microsoft has opened access to its advanced AI reasoning tool ‘Think Deeper’ to most regular Copilot users.
It runs on OpenAI’s o1 reasoning model, and delivers sophisticated analysis capabilities that were previously limited to premium subscribers.
After recent criticism from Salesforce boss Marc Benioff, Copilot and Microsoft needed a win. Think Deeper – which will allow businesses of all sizes to access and use advanced AI tools – could be just the fillip they were looking for.
Suleyman made the announcement on X, describing Think Deeper’s capabilities as ‘magical’:
Today we’ve made Think Deeper free and available for all users of Copilot.
This now gives everyone access to OpenAI’s world class o1 reasoning model in Copilot, everywhere at no cost.
I urge you to give it a try. It’s truly magical. Think Deeper helps you: pic.twitter.com/nzccl0tdhL
— Mustafa Suleyman (@mustafasuleyman) January 29, 2025
He went further on Linkedin, highlighting three key applications:
- Career development planning with detailed educational and industry insights
- Comprehensive project management that can break down complex tasks into actionable steps
- In-depth analysis of any topic, from historical subjects to current scientific trends.
“I’m genuinely so excited that our tens of millions of users are all getting this opportunity,” Suleyman wrote, adding that more features are in development. He encouraged users to let Think Deeper “shoulder some of the mental load” when tackling complex problems.
Below the Surface
Think Deeper excels at breaking down complex problems into step-by-step solutions. Whereas regular Copilot provides quick, direct responses, Think Deeper takes more time to process queries but delivers more comprehensive analysis.
It uses OpenAI’s o1 reasoning model to examine problems from multiple angles and verify its conclusions. This thoroughness makes it particularly useful for coding challenges, advanced maths and complex decision-making.
Undercurrents of Change
The rollout of Think Deeper could galvanise certain businesses to make greater use of GenAI, as well as affecting commercial AI market dynamics. While OpenAI charges $200 monthly for similar capabilities through ChatGPT Pro, and Google is developing its Gemini platform, Microsoft’s move to offer advanced AI analysis more broadly could reshape the competitive landscape.
Think Deeper shows particular promise in strategic planning, development operations, and organisational change. Its ability to analyse complex code structures and suggest architectural improvements has caught the attention of development teams, while business leaders value its capacity for resource optimisation.
On the Radar
For business leaders and decision-makers, Think Deeper’s launch opens the door to cheaper more sophisticated AI-driven analysis. While processing times are longer than standard Copilot responses, the depth and quality of analysis often justify the wait.
Despite usage limits of just three queries per week for free users and variable capacity limits for pro users, early adoption suggests Think Deeper could be a real contender in the GenAI field.
Think Deeper’s ability to break down complex problems while considering multiple perspectives makes it a valuable asset for strategic planning and decision-making, suggesting a future where advanced AI capabilities become more accessible to businesses of all sizes.
