OpenAI’s AI models explained: When to use GPT-4o, o4-mini, or 4.1

OpenAI has introduced several powerful AI models optimized for different needs — from general chat to deep reasoning. Here's a quick snapshot:

• GPT‑4o: A multimodal flagship—handles text, speech, vision, and audio.
• GPT‑4.5: Advanced conversational model focusing on creative, nuanced dialogue.
• o‑series reasoning models: A family of "chain‑of‑thought" models (o1 → o3 → o4‑mini), designed for complex reasoning, math, code, and scientific analysis.
• GPT‑4.1 variants: Specialized in coding, offering speed and efficiency gains over previous 'o' models.

Best Models by Task

1. Everyday Writing, Chat & Translation

• GPT‑4o remains the top pick: fast, versatile, and multimodal—processes text, images, audio—ideal for emails, summaries, translations, and content creation.

2. Creative or Emotionally Nuanced Dialogue

• GPT‑4.5 shines in sensitive, emotionally aware, or creative communication—its thoughtful responses make it ideal for delicate conversations and brainstorming sessions .

3. Coding, Math & Technical Reasoning

• o‑series models are specialized reasoning engines.
• o1 introduced chain‑of‑thought reasoning and excelled at math and coding, outperforming GPT‑4o in Olympiad benchmarks.
• o3 further improves on o1, delivering higher scores in science and coding benchmarks, like SWE‑Bench (71.7% vs 48.9%) and advanced science questions.
• o3‑mini offers a faster, cost‑efficient option for simpler technical tasks.
• o3‑pro, released June 10, is OpenAI’s most powerful reasoning model—best for the most demanding, reliability‑critical tasks, though slower and more expensive.
• o4‑mini, launched April 16, 2025, offers the fastest reasoning speeds with strong performance in STEM and visual tasks.

4. High‑Efficiency STEM & Reasoning Work

• o4‑mini is optimized for quick, cost‑efficient reasoning—great for math problems, templates, and data analysis .

5. Advanced Coding at Scale

• GPT‑4.1 and its variants (Mini, Nano) outperform previous models on code benchmarks like SWE‑Bench—delivering faster, more accurate results at lower cost.

Feature Comparison Table

How to Choose

Start with your task type: everyday text? go with GPT‑4o. Need emotional depth? GPT‑4.5. Working with math/code? dive into the o‑series or GPT‑4.1.

Balance speed vs accuracy:

• Need advanced reasoning? Choose o3‑pro, but consider latency and cost.
• For fast results in STEM: o4‑mini wins.
• For serious code work: GPT‑4.1 is tailored to your needs.

Consider cost and token requirements: reasoning models use more compute, so match model power to your task complexity.

The field is shifting toward specialized models tailored to distinct tasks—whether multimodal generalists like GPT‑4o, nuanced communicators like GPT‑4.5, or precision-focused models like o‑series and GPT‑4.1. This diversity allows developers to optimize for accuracy, speed, and efficiency in specific domains.