OpenAI o1

With the o1 family, OpenAI is ushering in a new era: no longer just predicting the next word, but thinking longer and better before responding. Announced in the fall of 2024 and expanded since then, this line of models (including o1-preview and o1-mini) was designed for tasks where robust inference chains are expected: math, coding, science, and rigorous analysis.

What is OpenAI o1

OpenAI o1 is the latest series of large language models released by OpenAI on September 12, 2024. Unlike “general-purpose” models that primarily optimize for speed, o1 spends more computing time on reasoning: it plans, explores paths, checks its intermediate steps, and then writes a final answer. The result: significantly improved performance on benchmarks known to be difficult, and more methodical behavior on multi-step problems.

Key Features of OpenAI o1

• A real leap in reasoning. o1 is designed to "take time to think" before responding. On Olympic-level math tests, o1-preview achieves 83% on the IMO qualifying test, while GPT-4o peaked at 13%. On Codeforces (competitive coding), it ranks at the 89th percentile, confirming a clear gain in solving complex problems.
• Step-by-step thinking, without verbiage. Instead of delivering instant answers, o1 runs an internal deliberation (a "draft" of reasoning) and only exposes the conclusion to the user. This approach, described by OpenAI as a new reasoning paradigm, explains its progress on demanding benchmarks (AIME, GPQA Diamond, MMMU) where it approaches or exceeds expert performance depending on the settings.
• More robust security. OpenAI teams have strengthened jailbreak resistance: on an internal benchmark, o1-preview obtained 84/100 (compared to 22/100 for GPT-4o), a sign of better compliance with safeguards while maintaining response quality.
• Two complementary profiles.
  • o1-preview: the “maximal reasoning” model for the most difficult tasks (math, coding, scientific analysis).
  • o1-mini: a much more economical variant (up to ~80% cheaper), while retaining most of the reasoning gains over AIME/Codeforces — useful when cost and analytical depth need to be reconciled.

Applications

• Scientific Research : The model can help researchers analyze datasets or generate hypotheses based on existing knowledge.
• Software development: In coding environments, such as GitHub Copilot, o1-preview can optimize algorithms and debug code more efficiently than previous models. Initial testing has shown its ability to analyze code in depth and suggest improvements based on a deep understanding of constraints and edge cases.
• Mathematics and Engineering: The model's advanced reasoning capabilities make it suitable for solving difficult problems in physics or engineering, where precise calculations and logical deductions are crucial.

Security enhancements

OpenAI prioritized security in developing the o1 series. The models are trained with a new security framework that leverages their advanced reasoning capabilities to more closely adhere to security guidelines. For example, in tests designed to assess how well the model follows security protocols in the face of attempts to bypass them (known as “jailbreaking”), the o1-preview model scored 84 out of 100 — significantly better than GPT-22o’s score of 4.

To ensure responsible use of these powerful tools, OpenAI has also strengthened its internal governance and partnered with AI safety institutes in the US and UK. These collaborations aim to develop robust safety protocols as part of ongoing model performance evaluations.

Access OpenAI o1 models

The o1 models are accessible to users of Chat GPT Plus and Team. Since September 12, 2024, they can select the o1-preview model or o1-mini directly in the template selector. Initial rate limits are set at 30 messages per week for o1-preview and 50 messages per week for o1-mini, with expectations that these limits will increase over time as OpenAI gathers user feedback.

ChatGPT Pro users. The ChatGPT Pro tier at $200 per month is the first exclusive to the o1 pro model.

OpenAI has committed to providing access to both o1 models for ChatGPT Enterprise and Education users starting September 19, 2024.

Developers can access the o1-preview and o1-mini models via OpenAI’s API. This allows for integration into custom applications and workflows.

Various platforms, including Microsoft Azure AI Studio and GitHub models, have integrated o1 models, allowing broader access across different environments.

OpenAI o1 vs GPT-4o comparison table