Read a 5,000 word technical reporting in a narrow chat window has never been the most comfortable experience. OpenAI tackles this problem head-on by launching a full-screen document viewer for ChatGPTThe in-depth search function of . With this update, the company’s AI tool becomes more like a professional research assistant than a simple chatbot.
ChatGPT’s new document viewer makes Deep Research reports easier to navigate
THE the new interface separates the final report from the standard discussion stream, providing a clean, dedicated reading space. OpenAI has added a table of contents in the left column to make it easier for you to navigate. This allows you to jump straight to certain parts without endless scrolling. On the right side, a special panel displays all sources and citations used, making it much easier to verify the information.
Beyond a simple appearance, the tool is now more functional. Users can see the progress of their searches in real time and even change the direction or scope. AI is always “thinking”. Once the report is ready, you can export the final document in different formats. The list includes PDF, Word and Markdown.
Lead the research process
One of most practical additions is the ability to guide ChatGPT to specific websites or connected applications. Instead of letting AI randomly browse the open web, you can now focus its attention on trusted sources, peer-reviewed journals, or specific industry databases. This level of control is a game-changer for academics and analysts who need credible, high-quality data rather than general summaries.
The research process itself remains thorough. It takes a few minutes for the system to break down a complex question, check the claims against multiple sources, and bring the results together into a coherent narrative. With these new controls, you can essentially program the AI’s methodology before it even begins crawling the web.
Availability
OpenAI is currently rolling out these improvements to ChatGPT Plus and Pro subscribers. The company, however, said that free users and those in the new ChatGPT Go tier will also receive these search updates in the coming days.

