OpenAI just announced a new AI model, and it’s arriving in a couple of weeks

By Fionna Agomuoh Published January 21, 2025

A laptop screen shows the home page for ChatGPT, OpenAI's artificial intelligence chatbot. — Rolf van Root / Unsplash

OpenAI’s latest reasoning model, o3 mini, is now official, with the company’s CEO, Sam Altman having recently shared details about the technology on X. He noted the model should be ready for rollout in a couple weeks with availability for API and ChatGPT users up at the same time.

thank you to the external safety researchers who tested o3-mini.

we have now finalized a version and are beginning the release process; planning to ship in ~a couple of weeks.

also, we heard the feedback: will launch api and chatgpt at the same time!

(it's very good.)

— Sam Altman (@sama) January 17, 2025

The update comes not long after OpenAI released its o1 and o1 mini model series in December. Those models provided more detailed processing of queries, as well as improved writing, and error detection in code. The upcoming o3 mini model is intended to be an improvement still on those models, with a focus on excelling in challenging science, code, and math queries. The overall intent of the model is to perform as well as a large language model in a lightweight form.

Recommended Videos

Windows Central noted Microsoft’s Phi-3 Mini is a direct competitor to o3 mini. Microsoft announced the reasoning model last April, claiming it would perform as well as GPT 3.5 in a lighter structure. Similarly, Anthropic, Google, and Meta are developing their own lightweight AI models.

TechRadar also noted whether Open AI’s update and continued development of such models is a benefit to the AI industry is pending. A shift from a heftier large language model to a lighter reasoning model can make for faster updates, but will they actually be beneficial or just consistent and incremental.

In addition to an exact release date, what remains to be seen is if the o3 mini model will be available to free ChatGPT users or if the model users will have to subscribe to a paid tier to gain access. Notably, Sam Altman has previously stated that ChatGPT Pro subscribers have a unique advantage with the 01 model as it “can think harder for the hardest problems.” The ChatGPT Pro infamously sells for $200 per month.

Computing Writer

Fionna Agomuoh is a Computing Writer at Digital Trends. She covers a range of topics in the computing space, including…

Topics

Computing

South Korea wants to give every citizen free, unlimited access to its own AI chatbot

The government-backed service could turn generative AI into public infrastructure instead of another monthly subscription

Electronics, Mobile Phone, Phone

South Korea wants to give every citizen free access to an AI chatbot with no usage limits. That puts the technology closer to a public utility than another premium service demanding a monthly subscription.

The Ministry of Science and ICT announced the AI for Everyone project on July 13. Private companies will build the platform around locally developed models, while a separate AI agent will help people navigate government services. It’s a more practical job than generating emails or settling arguments nobody wanted to research themselves.

Computing

Falling in love with a chatbot is now off limits for kids in China

The crackdown targets emotional AI relationships as regulators worry about the country's record low birthrate.

Replika AI companion app on an iPhone in hand

Ever since AI chatbots arrived on the scene, there has been one aspect that has worried lawmakers and experts a lot: humans forming emotional connections with chatbots. There have been plenty of cases where over-reliance on these AI companions or partners has resulted in medical emergencies, lost lives, and triggered multiple lawsuits against the likes of OpenAI and Meta.

China cracks down on AI companion apps

Computing

Russian hackers keep finding their way into critical networks through neglected routers

A multinational warning says outdated firmware, weak passwords, and insecure settings are giving state-backed attackers an easy opening

A Wi-Fi router next to a laptop.

Russian state-backed hackers have spent more than a decade exploiting a stubborn weakness in critical infrastructure networks. Organizations are still leaving poorly configured and outdated routers exposed to the internet.

In a joint cybersecurity advisory, the NSA, CISA, FBI, and international partners warn that hackers linked to Center 16 of Russia’s Federal Security Service are continuing to target vulnerable networking equipment. Energy, healthcare, and government networks are among the sectors facing the highest risk.