OpenAI has just released two powerful new AI models: o3 and o4-mini. These models aren’t just better versions of what came before—they represent a whole new way of thinking about what AI can do. They’re not just about writing text. They’re about solving real problems, using tools, and helping people in practical ways.
If you’re searching for insights on OpenAI o3 and o4-mini, or a complete GPT o3 o4 mini review, this blog covers everything you need to know.
What Are o3 and o4-mini?
o3 and o4-mini are the newest models from OpenAI. Unlike older models like GPT-4, these new models can use tools like a calculator, a coding environment, a web browser, and even image editors. They don’t just answer questions—they take action to figure out the best answer.
Think of them more like helpful AI assistants that can:
- Read and understand text, images, and code.
- Use tools to solve problems step by step.
- Work on complex tasks like software debugging, scientific research, and personalized content creation.
Why Are These Models a Big Deal?
These models are built to reason like humans. For example, instead of just giving you an answer, o3 can:
- Look at a blurry image or a scientific poster.
- Figure out what information is missing.
- Estimate the missing data using knowledge of physics or math.
- Search the internet to find recent research and compare results.
In one demo, o3 was given an old physics research poster without a final result. It analyzed the chart, calculated missing data, searched the web for newer papers, and explained how its answer compared to the latest findings—all in minutes. A human researcher said it would’ve taken them days.
Real-World Use Cases
1. Software Development
- Navigate large codebases.
- Find and fix bugs in open-source projects.
- Test code and apply fixes automatically.
2. Scientific Research
- Analyze research posters and papers.
- Perform calculations with image data.
- Compare results to recent academic findings.
3. Education and Learning
- Explain complex topics step by step.
- Solve math problems with code.
- Use images, charts, and diagrams to teach.
4. Content Creation
- Write personalized blog posts.
- Create data visualizations.
- Summarize articles and news.
5. Everyday Tasks
- Plan trips using maps and travel data.
- Help with budgeting and spreadsheets.
- Answer personal questions based on memory.
Smarter Coding with Codex CLI
OpenAI also released a new tool called Codex CLI. This tool connects o3 and o4-mini directly to your computer. You can:
- Drag in files, screenshots, or projects.
- Let the AI read and understand them.
- Automatically generate or fix code.
It can even run in “auto mode”—where it performs tasks on its own (with your permission) but in a safe way, only touching files in a limited folder.
Strong Performance on Benchmarks
These models are not just smart—they’re top performers:
- AIME (advanced math contest): 99% accuracy
- Codeforces (competitive coding): Top 200 globally
- GPQA (PhD-level science questions): Over 83% accuracy
And o4-mini can do all this at a much lower cost, making it more affordable for developers and teams.
Understanding Images Too
Both models are multimodal—they understand and think with images:
- Rotate, crop, and zoom in on images.
- Read graphs, charts, and blurry text.
- Combine visuals with code and text to solve problems.
This means you can upload a messy sketch or a complicated diagram, and the model will still help you with it.
Personal AI That Knows You
With memory and tool use combined, these models can:
- Remember your preferences.
- Suggest new things based on your interests.
- Create tailored content just for you.
One example showed o3 combining someone’s love of scuba diving and music to discover a real scientific study about coral reefs and sound waves. It explained the study, made a blog post, and even plotted data.
O4-mini vs O3-mini: What’s the Difference?
When comparing o4-mini vs o3-mini, here’s what you need to know:
| Feature | o4-mini | o3-mini |
|---|---|---|
| Multimodal Support | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Reasoning Ability | Improved | Good |
| Inference Cost | Lower | Higher |
| Performance | State-of-the-art in math & coding | Strong, but not top-tier |
| Use of Tools | Fully capable | Limited |
o4-mini is clearly the better choice for those who want fast, cost-effective, and multimodal AI reasoning power. It’s optimized for real-world tasks and available to all ChatGPT Plus, Pro, and Team users.
Availability and What’s Next
These models are now being rolled out to:
- ChatGPT Plus, Pro, and Team users.
- API access will follow soon.
- o3 Pro will replace the older 01 Pro model.
- o4-mini will replace earlier lightweight models.
OpenAI is also releasing Codex CLI as open source and launching a $1M open-source grant program to help developers build amazing tools with these new models.
Final Thoughts
This detailed OpenAI o3 and o4 mini review shows how these models take AI to the next level. They can reason, solve problems, and take action. They’re not just chatbots—they’re intelligent assistants ready to work with you.
Whether you’re a scientist, coder, student, or creative professional, these AI systems can help you do more, faster, and smarter.
The future of AI isn’t just about talking—it’s about thinking, doing, and collaborating. And it’s already here.
Try it out and see what it can help you create.
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