Microsoft's 'Think Deeper' Launch: AI Advancement for All Copilot Users

In a groundbreaking move likely to spur excitement in the AI community and among Windows enthusiasts, Microsoft has officially announced the release of "Think Deeper" for all Copilot users—including those on the free tier. Historically reserved for Copilot Pro subscribers, this advanced reasoning feature now promises to bring more nuanced and sophisticated responses to everyone’s fingertips.
However, there's plenty of nuance packed into this release, so let’s take a closer look at what the update entails, what Think Deeper actually does, and why its promised web browsing feature could reshape how users interact with AI tools like Copilot.

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What Is 'Think Deeper' and Why Should Users Care?​

At its core, "Think Deeper" is a feature designed to provide advanced reasoning capabilities within Microsoft's increasingly popular Copilot AI platform. Powered by OpenAI’s o1 model, Think Deeper aims to move beyond typical AI chatbot responses by giving users an in-depth understanding of not just the answers but also the "why" and "how" behind them.

What Can It Do?​

This tool isn't just about spitting out information—it dives into applications of reasoning that even seasoned experts might find handy:

• Career Coaching & Guidance: Looking for help in navigating career change or making pivotal long-term decisions? Think Deeper can map out structured advice based on your aspirations and challenges, offering a more tailored, almost mentor-like utility.
• Project Management: Be it planning a wedding or managing a product launch, Think Deeper can craft intricate, step-by-step project plans to keep timelines and objectives on track.
• Deep Dives into Complex Topics: Users can request a nuanced explanation of scientific phenomena, historical analysis, or other intellectually meaty questions, with clear breakdowns.

This is worlds apart from classic AI prompts that produce quick-and-dirty answers (often laden with generalizations). Think Deeper gives you a peek under the hood into the logic behind the solution, making it immensely useful for professionals, students, and developers.

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Making Sense of OpenAI's O1 Model​

To understand Think Deeper, we need to unpack the technology under the hood: OpenAI's o1 model.
The o1 model isn't just "another GPT variant" but is engineered for enhanced reasoning tasks, building on GPT’s foundation of language understanding while pushing boundaries in:

• Logical Problem Solving: It can handle puzzles, create complex connections between data sets, or predict the repercussions of actions.
• Advanced Contextual Awareness: The o1 model excels in maintaining context for longer, multi-threaded conversations—a shortcoming in most AI that causes them to lose coherence.
• Explainability: This model doesn’t just give answers—it dissects and articulates how decisions or conclusions are made. It almost feels like an AI thinking aloud.

Microsoft leveraging this model is a big step toward delivering accessible AI with a focus on transparency, something directly addressing complaints about AI outputs being "black-box" or inscrutable.

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What’s the Catch for Free Users?​

Although Think Deeper is now available to free-tier Copilot users, it comes with a critical limitation: a three-response-per-week cap for those not subscribed to Pro.
Meanwhile, Copilot Pro, priced at $20 per month, extends these capabilities with no fixed cap (limits may be dynamic depending on demand) and offers broader benefits, including:

• Extended Copilot Voice features (think hands-free, Alexa-style commands).
• Early access to experimental AI functionalities.
• Seamless integration with the Microsoft 365 suite, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

So while free access offers a taste of what Think Deeper can do, serious users may find themselves opting for a subscription to unlock the feature's full potential.

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Internet Access: The Next Frontier for Think Deeper​

Arguably, the most tantalizing part of Microsoft’s announcement is the confirmation that Think Deeper will soon have internet access. Mustafa Suleyman, head of Microsoft’s AI organization, confirmed on social media that this capability is in development and will roll out in the near future. But what does "internet access" mean in this context?

How Might It Work?​

• Enabling Copilot to gather the latest data dynamically from the web rather than relying solely on pre-existing training data. Want real-time stock insights or the latest scientific discoveries? Future iterations of Think Deeper may handle this in a few keystrokes.
• Supporting advanced citation and sourcing within answers, allowing verifiable output based on the latest and most credible resources.
• Bridging gaps in knowledgebases—for instance, being able to answer highly niche or obscure queries that even a well-trained model might not address without access to live data.

This move also addresses a long-time competitive gap between Microsoft and other AI-driven digital assistants, like Google Bard, which already added web browsing capabilities earlier.

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The Role of DeepSeek R1 in the Ecosystem​

While Think Deeper takes center stage in this update, Microsoft also spotlighted another innovation: the integration of DeepSeek R1, a buzzy AI model from China that recently disrupted the U.S. market. DeepSeek R1 will soon be:

• Available on Copilot+ PCs, likely giving Microsoft's hardware an exclusive edge.
• Open-sourced via Azure AI and GitHub, giving developers a chance to tinker with, deploy, and scale its capabilities for custom applications.

DeepSeek R1's proven ability to handle enormous datasets and deliver raw power to AI reasoning tools could provide a significant boost to enterprise AI solutions, further solidifying Microsoft Azure's position as a leading cloud-based development platform.

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Why This Update Matters for You​

If you're a Windows or Microsoft 365 user (and let’s face it, most of us are), here’s how this release can make a difference:

• For Casual Users: Excited about trying AI without committing your wallet? Think Deeper offers an entry point to advanced features without an upfront buy-in.
• For Professionals: Those in need of robust tools for project planning, analysis, or career navigation may consider Copilot Pro for all its added perks.
• For Developers & Enterprises: DeepSeek R1 and Copilot's versatility within Azure AI open up avenues for creating industry-specific, AI-powered apps.

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The Bigger Picture: Microsoft’s Bold AI Vision​

Microsoft's long-term play here is clear: it's not just about AI tools but building an ecosystem that seamlessly integrates Copilot across devices, operating systems, and workspaces. With features like Think Deeper moving toward ubiquity and capabilities like internet access on the horizon, the updated Copilot suite is evolving to cater to casual tech enthusiasts, hardcore number-crunchers, and developers alike.
Is this the dawn of the everyman’s AI assistant? Perhaps. Microsoft certainly seems to think so. And with a thoughtful blend of freemium accessibility and Pro-tier functionality, they might just cement Copilot as the de-facto choice for AI-enabled productivity.

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Let’s Hear from You​

So, WindowsForum readers—what are your thoughts on Think Deeper’s debut for all users? Are you diving into its free-tier offerings, or do you think the Pro subscription pack is worth the investment? And what are you most curious about as Microsoft prepares to layer in web browsing capabilities?
Join the conversation below to share your thoughts, experiments, and ideas!

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Source: MSPoweruser Copilot's Think Deeper, now free for everyone, is getting internet access