OpenAI’s New o1 Model ‘Thinks’ Before Answering Complex Questions – Here’s What to Expect

OpenAI has launched its highly anticipated o1 models, known internally as “Strawberry,” designed to handle complex reasoning tasks by “thinking” through problems before responding. Unlike the widely used GPT-4o, the o1 model breaks down big problems into small steps, providing detailed and well-thought-out answers to challenging queries. However, it comes at a cost – the o1 model is significantly more expensive and lacks the speed and multimodal capabilities of GPT-4o.

The key feature of the o1 model is its multi-step reasoning approach, which allows it to solve complicated tasks like planning detailed events or debugging complex code. In one example, it successfully helped a user plan Thanksgiving dinner by strategizing how to manage oven space and even suggesting portable ovens, outperforming GPT-4o in similar scenarios.

Despite its strengths in handling intricate tasks, the model needs more time to think of simple questions. For instance, when asked where to find cedar trees in America, it provided an 800-word response packed with unnecessary detail, demonstrating that o1 isn’t suited for every prompt. This suggests that users should stick to GPT-4o for more straightforward queries.

o1’s launch has sparked excitement but also tempered expectations. While it marks an advancement in AI reasoning, it isn’t the revolutionary leap some anticipated, mainly due to its high costs and limitations. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman acknowledged this, stating that “o1 is still flawed, still limited,” but it is a step toward AI that can genuinely handle big-picture reasoning.

Though the model is best for complex queries, the price tag may make users think twice before using it. OpenAI is positioning o1 as a specialized tool for specific tasks, and while it may not replace GPT-4o for everyday use, it shines in specific, demanding scenarios.