- O3 and O4-MINI ARE SEEP FOR PROS, PLUS AND TEAM USE NOW, FREE users can try O4-MINI as well
- They can combine and use any tool in Chatgpt’s Arsenal
- O3 and O4-MINI add reasoning using images to chatgpt’s abilities
Openai has just given Chatgpt a massive boost with new O3 and O4-MINI models available for use right now for pro, plus, team and even free level users.
The new models improve chat’s performance significantly and are much faster in reasoning tasks than the previous Openai Reasoning Models such as Chatgpt O3-mini and O1.
The most important thing is that they can intelligently decide which of the Openai’s different tools to use to complete your query, including a new ability to resonate with images.
Openai delivered a livestream for the release:
Here are the three most important changes:
Both the new reasoning models can be agentically using and combining any tool within chatgpt. This means that they have access to all chatgpts box with tricks including, web browsing, python coding, image and file analysis, image generation, canvas, automation, file search and memory.
The important thing, however, is that Chatgpt now decides whether it should use a tool even based on what you have asked.
When you ask Chatgpt to do something complicated using the new models, it shows you every step it takes and what tool it uses and how it arrived at that decision.
Once it has done all that research, the notes on its preparation process disappear and you get a report on its conclusions.
2 .. Better performance
The way O3 and O4-MINI can intelligently decide which tools to use is a step towards the intelligent model we have been promised with Chatgpt 5 when it finally arrives.
As you would expect from advanced reasoning models, the report you get at the end is extremely detailed and contains links to all sources used.
According to Openai, “the combined power of advanced reasoning with full tool access is translated into significantly stronger performance across academic benchmarks and tasks in the real world, setting a new standard in both intelligence and newness.”
The real world result of this is that these models can tackle multifaceted questions more effectively, so don’t be afraid to ask them to perform multiple actions at once and produce an answer or report that combines multiple queries together.
3. Reasoning with pictures
Both new models are the first published by Openai who will integrate uploaded images into its thought chain. They will actually resonate by using the images, so for example, you can upload a picture of some cars and ask what the name and model of the cars is how much retail value they want in five years.
This is the first time that Chatgpt has been able to integrate images into a reasoning chain and presents a real step forward for Multimodal AI.
Introduction of Openai O3 and O4-MINI OUR SMARTEST and most skilled models to date. For the first time, our reasoning models can use agent and combine any tool in chatgpt, including web search, python, image analysis, file interpretation and image generation. pic.twitter.com/rdaqv0x0weApril 16, 2025
My judgment
I have tried the new models at the Plus level and I am impressed with both the speed and the understanding of the answers to my queries. While I have always had the depth of reasoning that the O1 and O3-mini models have delivered, it is always meant to wait longer for an answer.
The O3 model has now become my standard model to choose on plus because it is fast enough that I do not want to wait too long for an answer, but I get a satisfactory amount of details.
In short, I’m impressed. The new models feel like a natural development of chatgpt to something that is smarter and more skilled. I also like the way it can decide which of Chatgpt’s different tools it needs to give the best answer.
Trying it for yourself
How to try the new chatgpt models for yourself:
Plus, Pro and team users will see that they can choose chatgpt O3, chatgpt O4-mini and chatgpt O4-mini-high from the LLM roller inside Chatgpt, and free level users can access O4-mini by selecting the Cause Button in the composer before sending your query. EDU users get access in a week.
There is no visual review for free level users that they are now using the 4o-mini Reasoning Model, but if you click the button and ask Chatgpt which LLM it uses, it says now 4o-mini.
There will be a rate limit for how many times a free level user can use the reasoning feature and for plus users is much higher.
Openai says they expect to release O3-PRO “in a few weeks” with full tool support. Pro users can already access O1-PRO.
