Recently, OpenAI made waves by introducing its latest innovation, the o1 model, a cutting-edge AI designed to excel in mathematics, coding, and complex problem-solving. The company has ambitious plans for the future of this model, with updates set to enable it to tackle PhD-level scientific inquiries. These advancements will pave the way for the o1 model to provide precise solutions to highly specialised and advanced scientific challenges.
Accompanying the o1 model is its more affordable sibling, the o1-mini. As the name implies, the o1-mini is a scaled-down version of the flagship model, offering fewer features but delivering exceptional performance in coding tasks. Its faster processing speed and cost-effective reasoning capabilities make it an ideal choice for applications requiring logical problem-solving without the need for extensive knowledge.
Accessible to All – A Step Towards Democratizing AI
While ChatGPT Plus and Team users can access the o1 model within ChatGPT, OpenAI has made the o1-mini model available to everyone for free. Users can manually select either model via the model picker. At launch, usage limits are set at 30 messages per week for o1-preview and 50 messages per week for o1-mini.
How to Access OpenAI o1-mini?
The rollout of the o1 models is happening gradually, so availability may vary. To use the o1-mini model:
- Desktop Users: Open ChatGPT, navigate to the top of the window, click “ChatGPT Auto,” and select “o1-mini” from the “Alpha Models” dropdown. The text will then change to “ChatGPT Alpha,” confirming the switch.
- Mobile Users: Long press on a ChatGPT response, tap “Change model” in the context menu, and select “Alpha [gpt-4o]” to start using the o1-mini version.
Features and Limitations – What to Expect?
While the o1 model represents a significant advancement, it lacks some of the features available in the ChatGPT-4o model. For instance, it currently does not support internet browsing or image uploads. This means that the o1 model is limited to handling text-based prompts only. If you were hoping for a model to analyse images or solve problems via uploaded content, you’d need to wait for future updates.
Despite these limitations, the o1 model is a game-changer for users seeking solutions to intricate mathematical and academic problems. OpenAI has also trained these models to emulate human-like reasoning, encouraging them to spend more time deliberating, exploring strategies, and recognising errors before responding. The OpenAI o1 model is a powerful tool for advanced problem-solving, designed to think critically and evolve with its training.
