What is GPT-4o mini (and how does it compare to other LLMs?)

Last Updated August 14, 2024

GPT-4o mini

Discover how GPT-4.0 Mini compares to other language models in terms of performance, simplicity, and real-world applications.

Not unlike many in the language services industry, we’re so intrigued by how large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT have revolutionized how we interact with technology.

We’ve written quite a bit on the topic in recent months, so of course we’re going to delve into the latest advancement: GPT-4o mini.

It’s a model we reference in a recent post on how ChatGPT handles Hindi translation, and OpenAI bills it as their most cost-efficient small model.

So, what exactly is GPT-4o mini and how does it compare to other LLMs? Let’s take a quick look and give you a tool to help you decide.

What is GPT-4o mini?

Simply put, GPT-4o mini is a smarter and cheaper version of GPT-3.5 Turbo, an earlier model that was built for simple tasks like query and response.

GPT-4.0 Mini outshines GPT-3.5 Turbo and other smaller models in academic tests, performing better in understanding text and handling tasks that involve both text and images.

GPT-4.0 also supports as many languages as GPT-3.5. Additionally, it’s great at handling tasks where it needs to fetch data or interact with other systems, and it performs better with longer pieces of text compared to GPT-3.5 Turbo.

Per Microsoft, “GPT-4o mini allows customers to deliver stunning applications at a lower cost with blazing speed. GPT-4o mini is significantly smarter than GPT-3.5 Turbo—scoring 82% on Measuring Massive Multitask Language Understanding (MMLU) compared to 70%—and is more than 60% cheaper.”

As such, OpenAI expects GPT-4o mini will “significantly expand the range of applications built with AI by making intelligence much more affordable.”

How does GPT Mini 4o compare?

This graphic was created by OpenAI to help answer that:

OpenAI

Here’s a couple examples comparing how ChatGPT 3.5 Turbo and GPT-4.0 Mini might respond to the same query.

Query: “Explain the process of photosynthesis in simple terms.”

Response from ChatGPT 3.5 Turbo:

“Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods with the help of chlorophyll. It involves the absorption of light energy by chlorophyll, the conversion of this energy into chemical energy, and the production of glucose (a sugar) and oxygen from carbon dioxide and water. This process occurs in the chloroplasts of plant cells.”

Response from GPT-4.0 Mini:

“Photosynthesis is how plants make their food using sunlight. They take in sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide and turn them into sugar, which they use for energy, and oxygen, which they release into the air. This happens inside the leaves of the plant.”

Key Differences:

  • Simplicity. GPT-4.0 Mini offers a more straightforward explanation, breaking down the process into easy-to-understand terms, while GPT-3.5 Turbo provides a slightly more technical description.
  • Clarity. GPT-4.0 Mini uses everyday language, making it more accessible for a general audience, especially for those without a scientific background.
  • Contextual Understanding. GPT-4.0 Mini is more adept at simplifying complex concepts, which can be particularly useful in educational settings or for quick explanations.

This example shows how GPT-4.0 Mini excels in delivering clear, concise, and accessible explanations compared to earlier models.

Query: “What are the potential risks and benefits of using AI in healthcare?”

Response from ChatGPT 3.5 Turbo:

“AI in healthcare offers several benefits, including improved diagnostic accuracy, personalized treatment plans, and enhanced efficiency in administrative tasks. However, there are also potential risks, such as data privacy concerns, the potential for bias in AI algorithms, and the need for significant investment in AI infrastructure. It is essential to carefully manage these risks to fully realize the benefits of AI in healthcare.”

Response from GPT-4.0 Mini:

“Using AI in healthcare can be really helpful because it can help doctors diagnose diseases more accurately, create treatment plans just for you, and make hospital work faster. But, there are also some risks. For example, your personal health information could be at risk, AI might make mistakes if it learns from biased data, and setting up AI can be expensive. So, while AI can do a lot of good, we need to be careful with how we use it.”

Key Differences:

  • Detail Level. GPT-3.5 Turbo gives a more general overview, while GPT-4.0 Mini provides the same information but in a more detailed, relatable way.
  • Audience Appropriateness. GPT-4.0 Mini’s response is more tailored for someone who might not be familiar with technical jargon, making it easier to understand.
  • Contextualization. GPT-4.0 Mini contextualizes the risks and benefits by providing examples, making it easier for the reader to grasp the implications of AI in healthcare.

This example highlights GPT-4.0 Mini’s ability to convey complex ideas in a way that is both informative and easy to understand, making it more user-friendly for a broader audience.

Query: “How does blockchain technology work?”

Response from ChatGPT 3.5 Turbo:

“Blockchain technology is a decentralized digital ledger that records transactions across a network of computers. It ensures transparency, security, and immutability by using cryptographic techniques. Each block in the chain contains a list of transactions and a cryptographic hash of the previous block, forming a secure chain. Blockchain is widely used in cryptocurrency, supply chain management, and other applications requiring secure and transparent data handling.”

Response from GPT-4.0 Mini:

“Blockchain is like a digital notebook that everyone in a network can see. When someone makes a transaction, it gets added to a list, or ‘block.’ Each block is linked to the one before it, making a ‘chain.’ Because everyone can see the chain, it’s very hard to change anything without everyone knowing. This makes blockchain really safe and good for things like Bitcoin or tracking products in a supply chain.”

Key Differences:

  • Language Simplicity. GPT-4.0 Mini uses simpler language, breaking down technical terms like “decentralized digital ledger” into easier-to-understand concepts like a “digital notebook.”
  • Analogies. GPT-4.0 Mini employs a relatable analogy (“digital notebook”) to make the concept more tangible, while GPT-3.5 Turbo provides a more formal, textbook-style explanation.
  • Target Audience. GPT-4.0 Mini’s response is crafted for someone with little to no background in blockchain, making it suitable for beginners, whereas GPT-3.5 Turbo’s explanation might be more appropriate for someone with some technical knowledge.

This example demonstrates GPT-4.0 Mini’s strength in breaking down complex technical concepts into more understandable and relatable explanations.

How to Choose Between LLMs

OpenAI envisions a future where models become seamlessly integrated in every app and on every website. The future of AI is becoming more accessible, reliable, and embedded in our daily digital experiences.

Is GPT Mini 4o the best? Maybe, but you don’t really have to choose.

Our AI Playground (AIP) is a cutting-edge tool designed to empower users in exploring and harnessing the capabilities of large language models (LLMs) for diverse processing tasks.

Different LLMs vary in quality and output. The AI Playground supports multiple LLMs so that you can compare the quality between them.

All LLM processing is done by AI without any human intervention.

LLMs currently supported are ChatGPTClaude, and Mistral, but there’s more to come. To use the tool, you need to have a valid API key from one of these LLMs.

Check it out today. And if you are interested in services including help with prompt creation, guaranteed human annotation with Project Management and Quality Control, human labelling, tagging or evaluation of AI output, and many other services, please contact us at sales@summalinguae.com.

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