On February 12, 2026, OpenAI introduced ChatGPT deep research, an agentic workflow designed to run multi-step web investigations and produce citation-backed reports. The release targets higher-value knowledge work where traceable evidence matters as much as speed.
OpenAI reports that, across more than one million ChatGPT conversations, the share of difficult interactions exceeding a human baseline increased roughly fourfold from September 2024 to January 2026. The company also shows large gains in case-interview and puzzle-style open tasks.
OpenAI said on January 29, 2026 that ChatGPT would stop offering GPT-4o and older model options from February 13, 2026. GPT-4o, GPT-4.5, and o4-mini are being replaced by GPT-5, GPT-5 thinking, and o5-mini respectively.
OpenAI added Lockdown Mode and standardized Elevated Risk labels to reduce prompt-injection-related exposure in ChatGPT products. The launch starts with enterprise-focused plans and gives admins tighter control over high-risk capabilities.
OpenAI announced on February 9 that it's testing ads in ChatGPT for Free and Go tier users in the US. Plus, Pro, Business, and Enterprise tiers remain ad-free.
Major U.S. grocery chain Albertsons joined OpenAI's ChatGPT advertising pilot. The test explores conversational AI ad formats for retail, signaling growing industry interest in AI-native advertising.
Anthropic's Super Bowl ad declares "Ads are coming to AI. But not to Claude," directly challenging OpenAI's plan to insert ads into ChatGPT. The clash signals a new competitive phase in the AI industry.
OpenAI started testing ads in ChatGPT's free and Go tiers. Ads will be clearly marked and visually separated from chatbot answers. In contrast, Anthropic stated it will not include ads in Claude.