Can a running ChatGPT deep research task be redirected?

Definition: Yes. OpenAI documents that a running ChatGPT deep research task can be interrupted to refine its focus, including changing the sources it can access. The same documentation describes live progress viewing and follow-up instructions as part of this control.

Key facts

• ChatGPT prepares a research plan that can be reviewed and modified before research begins, according to the OpenAI Help Center.
• OpenAI says that progress can be followed while research runs and that the task can be interrupted to refine focus or adjust accessible sources, in the same deep research documentation.
• The Help Center identifies Sites > Manage sites as the place to focus research on specific websites, and it describes either restricting research to entered domains or prioritizing them while retaining broader web search, in its source controls.
• OpenAI's February 10, 2026 update describes live progress tracking and interruption with follow-up prompts or new sources in its deep research announcement.
• Completed research has a structured report with citations or source links, a sources used section, and an activity history, according to the OpenAI Help Center.

What does redirecting a running task mean?

The documented action is an interruption during research. The running task can then receive a refined focus or changes to the sources it may access. OpenAI's February 10, 2026 update describes this as interrupting the task to refine it with follow-up prompts or new sources.

This control operates after the research has started. Before that point, ChatGPT proposes a plan that can be reviewed and edited. The Help Center also says that a prompt should describe the question, desired outcome, and relevant constraints, so a clarification can change the requested direction before execution begins.

How can progress be monitored?

The Help Center says that progress can be viewed in real time while the task runs. OpenAI's launch description says that a sidebar appears after the task starts with a summary of the steps taken and sources used. The same page says that the work may take from 5 to 30 minutes, and that a notification appears when the research is complete.

The completed report keeps an activity history showing how the research progressed. It also opens in a fullscreen report view with a table of contents and a sources used section. These are review surfaces for the finished report, while the sidebar is the documented running view.

What source changes are documented?

For website selection, the Help Center directs the user to Sites > Manage sites in the prompt window. The available choices are to restrict research to the websites or domains entered, or to prioritize those sites while allowing full web search. During a running task, OpenAI documents updating which sources the research can access. The announcement describes adding new sources through a follow-up interruption.

The Help Center also states that deep research can use the public web, uploaded files, and supported connected apps. App availability depends on the account, plan, region, workspace settings, role access, and provider permissions. The source controls therefore describe an available-source setting, rather than a promise that every connected source is present in every account.

Related terms

• ChatGPT deep research
• ChatGPT search
• Perplexity Research

FAQ

Can you change the research plan before it starts?

Yes. You can review and modify ChatGPT's proposed plan before research begins, and the Help Center says ChatGPT may ask clarifying questions first.

Can you add sources while research is running?

Yes. OpenAI documents interruption to update which sources the research can access, and its February 10, 2026 update mentions follow-up prompts or new sources.

Does OpenAI specify exactly what happens to earlier results after a redirect?

The public documentation describes the control and the resulting report surfaces, but it does not specify whether every earlier search result is retained after the task's focus changes.

Sources

1. OpenAI Help Center, "Deep research in ChatGPT", n.d.
2. OpenAI, "Introducing deep research", 2 February 2025

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