Deep Research (Cited, Multi-Step)

What Deep Research does

Deep Research runs a multi-step, cited investigation of a question. Instead of a single model reply, it plans the question, searches and reads multiple sources, and synthesizes an answer that cites the sources it used. It's built for questions where you need traceable evidence, not just a confident-sounding paragraph.

How a research session works

1. You ask a research question.
2. ToRun opens a deep-research session and works through it in steps — searching, fetching, and reading sources.
3. Each source consulted is recorded against the session.
4. The final synthesis is returned with citations linking claims back to the sources.

The session and its sources are first-class records, so you can review which sources informed the answer and revisit them later.

Citations

Every research session keeps a list of the sources it pulled in. The synthesized answer ties claims back to those sources, so you can verify any statement rather than taking it on trust. This is the core difference from a normal chat reply.

Cost

Deep Research performs several model calls (planning, retrieval, reading, synthesis). Per ToRun's billing rule, each AI call produces its own BillingRecord with a pricing snapshot. A research run therefore costs more than a single chat turn, but the cost is fully itemized — you can see exactly what each step cost.

When to use it

• Questions that need evidence you can check (market data, technical comparisons, claims you'll repeat publicly).
• Topics that span multiple sources and need synthesis, not a single lookup.
• Anything where "where did this come from?" matters.

When NOT to use it

• Quick factual lookups a single chat turn handles fine — Deep Research will cost more for no benefit.
• Creative or open-ended generation, where citations aren't the point.

Tips

• Ask a focused question. "Compare X and Y on cost, latency, and licensing" yields a better cited report than "tell me about X."
• Treat citations as the deliverable — open them to confirm before you act on the conclusions.
• If you only need live facts with links and not a full multi-step report, a single web-search-capable chat turn is the lighter option.