New ChatGPT Model is here and it’s GOOD - GPT-4o Mini Review

Introduction

In a recent update, OpenAI has unveiled a new model called GPT-4o Mini. This model promises to be free, fast, and surprisingly effective, closely mirroring the capabilities of GPT-4. In this review, I'll be putting GPT-4o Mini through various practical prompts to see how it stacks up against the existing GPT-4 model. Additionally, I'll discuss the significant changes OpenAI has made to its model lineup and their implications for developers and business owners utilizing GPT APIs.

The New Lineup of ChatGPT Models

When you log into ChatGPT, you'll now find three models to choose from. For API users, there are some pivotal updates, which I'll explain shortly.

GPT-4 Remains the Pinnacle

GPT-4 continues to be the premier model, offering unparalleled speed and intelligence. Previously, running out of credits on GPT-4 would drop you back to GPT-3.5, which is now obsolete. Instead, you'll now switch to GPT-4o Mini.

GPT-4o Mini: A Lightweight Alternative

GPT-4o Mini is a lighter, faster alternative compared to GPT-4. Despite being free, it maintains the substantial 128k context window, matching GPT-4. This extensive context window allows for thorough and coherent conversations, as it can remember an entire novel-length input.

Performance and Versatility

According to recent tests, GPT-4o Mini is remarkably comparable to GPT-4 in various tasks and significantly outperforms other small models such as Google Gemini Flash and Claude Haiku.

Practical Prompt Comparisons

Writing Prompt Test

To compare the practical output of GPT-4 and GPT-4o Mini, I tested them with a marketing example. Here are the highlights:

Speed

GPT-4o Mini outpaced GPT-4 considerably, showing substantial improvement in response time.

Formatting

GPT-4 offered better formatting with bold headings and cleaner structuring, whereas GPT-4o Mini provided a comparable, albeit simpler, output.

Mega Prompt Test

A complex, page-long prompt was used to test both models. The results:

Both models performed identically, following through instructions without missing crucial details. This suggests that GPT-4o Mini can handle complex prompts effectively, provided they are within a page in length.

Summarization Test

I tasked both models with summarizing a lengthy article into concise LinkedIn posts.

Both versions produced coherent summaries with appropriate detail. There was no major difference in their ability to extract and compress useful information.

Complex Reasoning

A classic handshake problem was used to test logic and reasoning.

GPT-4o Mini computed the answer correctly, identical to GPT-4. Both models demonstrated strong logical capabilities.

Content Repurposing

Repurposing a lengthy YouTube transcript into actionable LinkedIn posts:

GPT-4o Mini performed better in this test, maintaining accuracy and incorporating hashtags effectively.

Limitations

While promising, GPT-4o Mini does have its constraints:

• Coding: GPT-4o Mini struggled significantly in coding tasks, making GPT-4 and Claude 3.5 Sonet better choices for developers.
• Data Analysis and File Uploads: Currently, GPT-4o Mini lacks the ability to upload files or perform data analysis, functionalities available in the premium GPT-4 model.

Conclusion

GPT-4o Mini is a robust, free alternative for many practical applications, especially for general writing and content summarization. However, for complex tasks like coding and data analysis, GPT-4 or Claude 3.5 Sonet remain superior.

For further resources and updates, consider checking out SkillShare's updated AI courses, which cover prompt techniques and new model functionalities.

Keywords

• GPT-4o Mini
• OpenAI
• ChatGPT models
• API changes
• Developers
• Business owners
• Context window
• Writing prompt
• Summarization
• Complex reasoning
• Coding limitations
• Data analysis

FAQs

1. What is GPT-4o Mini?

   • GPT-4o Mini is a new, lightweight model from OpenAI, designed to be faster and more efficient while providing high-quality outputs similar to GPT-4.

2. Is GPT-4o Mini free?

   • Yes, GPT-4o Mini is free and available for use within ChatGPT.

3. How does GPT-4o Mini compare to GPT-4?

   • GPT-4o Mini is comparable in terms of practical output for tasks like writing and summarization but falls short in coding and data analysis capabilities.

4. What is the context window for GPT-4o Mini?

   • GPT-4o Mini retains the same 128k context window as GPT-4, allowing it to handle extensive conversations effectively.

5. Why should developers switch to GPT-4o Mini?

   • GPT-4o Mini offers a 60% cost-saving on tokens compared to GPT-3.5 Turbo, making it an economical yet efficient choice for applications.

6. What are the limitations of GPT-4o Mini?

   • The model struggles with coding tasks and currently does not support file uploads or data analysis functions available in GPT-4.