OpenAI launches the free o3-mini IoT model: what makes it special?

On 31 January, OpenAI, a leader in artificial intelligence (AI) solutions, announced the launch of a new AI model called o3-mini. This model is the latest in the company's series of high performance models. It is already available to US users through both the ChatGPT platform and API integrations. This IoT model will gradually be rolled out to other countries.

"OpenAI o3-mini" was first launched in December 2024, but the new IoT model was not yet available to ordinary users. According to the developers, this "fast and powerful" model aims to extend the capabilities of small models, particularly in the areas of science, mathematics and programming, while maintaining high query execution speeds and low power consumption.

The new model is the first in a series of small solutions offering features that are often requested by developers. It also allows users to choose between different levels of intelligence, such as low, medium or high, favouring speed or accuracy in certain situations.

Does not support photo generation, but will be available for free

OpenAI o3-mini does not currently support visual processing capabilities, so it is recommended to use the OpenAI o1 model for visual solutions. The new model is already available for ChatGPT Plus, Team and Pro users. Wider availability is planned for February.

The new model will also reportedly be available to users of the free plan, giving more people the chance to try it out.

The company says that OpenAI o3-mini stands out as a useful assistant for technically challenging areas where speed and accuracy are required, and has the potential to serve as a valuable tool in a wide range of use scenarios.

In addition, expert evaluations have shown that the o3-mini is more efficient in solving complex tasks than other IoT predecessors.

An intensive week and the launch of ChatGPT Gov

"The launch of the o3-mini IoT model took place just as OpenAI was wrapping up an intensive week. On Tuesday, the IoT market leader announced the launch of ChatGPT Gov, a version of the artificial intelligence assistant tailored to "provide US government agencies with additional access to OpenAI's most advanced models."

In a blog post on 28 January announcing ChatGPT Gov, OpenAI wrote that government agencies will be able to deploy the system in their Microsoft Azure cloud environments, ensuring high stability and cybersecurity of critical information systems.

The company added that it expects this new service to make it easier for government agencies to analyse "non-public sensitive data" through ChatGPT.