Microsoft has upgraded its Think Deeper feature in Copilot to offer OpenAI’s o3-mini-high model for free, replacing the previously available o1 reasoning model.
This marks a major shift in AI accessibility, as o3-mini-high provides more advanced structured reasoning capabilities, which were previously behind paywalls.
Until now, free Think Deeper usage was limited to OpenAI’s o1, which offered basic reasoning functionality. With this latest upgrade, Microsoft is giving all users access to a more capable model without requiring a Copilot Pro subscription.
Remember when we announced free unlimited Think Deeper? Just got better. Now running on o3-mini high, for all your toughest questions and deepest dives. https://t.co/7DEzhBisiS https://t.co/87SF7FiiDt
— Mustafa Suleyman (@mustafasuleyman) March 6, 2025
Microsoft’s Free AI Strategy Continues with o3-mini-high Expansion
The rollout follows Microsoft’s broader AI expansion. On February 25, the company removed limitations on Think Deeper’s free version, but at the time, users could only access OpenAI’s o1 reasoning model.
This latest development upgrades that access to o3-mini-high, delivering more sophisticated multi-step reasoning and problem-solving capabilities.
By embedding AI into its software ecosystem without additional costs, Microsoft continues to position itself as a provider of free, high-quality AI reasoning tools.
Meanwhile, OpenAI continues to monetize structured reasoning through paid subscriptions, leaving free ChatGPT users with access only to the less capable o3-mini model.
Access to structured reasoning models like o3-mini-high requires a subscription. ChatGPT Plus costs $20 per month, while ChatGPT Pro, offering access to more advanced AI reasoning capabilities with fewer limits, is priced at $200 per month.
Microsoft’s ability to provide free access to o3-mini-high is directly linked to OpenAI’s internal strategy. On February 13, OpenAI announced that it would cancel the release of its standalone o3 model, instead merging its reasoning capabilities into the upcoming GPT-5.
OpenAI’s most recent model update, GPT-4.5, lacks the structured reasoning functionality found in o3-mini-high, making Microsoft’s Think Deeper upgrade particularly noteworthy.
Microsoft recently ended its exclusive cloud deal with OpenAI, giving the AI research firm more flexibility in choosing compute providers, with OpenAI shifting towards SoftBank with new agreements.
Additionally, Microsoft has reportedly pulled out of two planned data center leasing agreements, according to analysts at TD Cowen, indicating a shift toward a more self-sufficient cloud strategy.
Despite reducing its reliance on third-party providers, Microsoft continues to invest heavily in AI, with around $80 billion allocated for AI-related cloud infrastructure in 2025. However, the company’s increased focus on in-house chip development suggests that CoreWeave’s role in its ecosystem may diminish over time.
