In a newly released blog post, OpenAI has finally provided a clear and comprehensive guide on how best to use its growing portfolio of AI models. The long-awaited explanation brings much-needed structure to a landscape that has quickly become more complex and specialised. From creative writing to data science, and from multimodal interaction to precise analytical tasks, each model now has a defined role—along with specific strengths and recommended use cases.
At the forefront is GPT-4o, OpenAI’s newest flagship model. Fully multimodal, it can handle text, images, documents, audio, video, and spreadsheets—making it exceptionally versatile. GPT-4o is ideal for everyday tasks like summarising meeting notes, writing emails, brainstorming campaign ideas or working with visual inputs in real time. Whether you’re generating action points from a project briefing or sketching out a launch plan with uploaded screenshots, GPT-4o is designed to deliver fast, fluid, and highly contextual support across a wide range of media.
When it comes to creativity and emotionally intelligent writing, GPT-4.5 is the standout. This model shines in crafting clear, expressive content with a natural tone and intuitive flow. It’s well suited to producing compelling LinkedIn posts, empathetic customer communications, or persuasive product descriptions. If your goal is to strike the right emotional chord in a message or to bring a spark of originality to your content, GPT-4.5 is the model to turn to.
On the technical side, OpenAI offers two variants under the o4-mini label. The standard o4-mini is built for speed and efficiency in technical tasks—like quickly pulling data from CSV files, summarising research papers, or debugging Python code. Meanwhile, o4-mini-high is engineered for more in-depth work, such as solving complex equations, drafting SQL queries, or explaining scientific concepts with greater accuracy. It processes for longer, but with more precision, making it a good fit for users who prioritise clarity and technical depth.
For complex, multi-step projects, o3 is the recommended model. It’s tailored for strategic planning, detailed analyses, market evaluations, and data-heavy tasks that require synthesis and foresight. It can map out business strategies, conduct in-depth forecasting based on datasets, and visualise performance metrics—all within a coherent, well-structured output. Its ability to reason through multiple stages makes it particularly valuable for advanced decision-making.
Finally, there’s o1 pro mode—a model that may take a little longer to respond but is built for rigorous, highly accurate reasoning. It’s best suited for advanced users dealing with complex problems, such as drafting comprehensive data privacy memos or developing algorithms for financial forecasting. With this model, the focus is on precision, depth, and structured thinking.
By laying out this model-specific guidance, OpenAI is not only simplifying the user experience but also signalling a maturing AI ecosystem—one that moves away from the one-size-fits-all mentality and towards purpose-built solutions. For businesses, creatives, developers, and analysts, the message is clear: the better you match the model to the task, the more powerful and efficient your work will become. OpenAI’s framework is more than just a usage guide—it’s a strategic blueprint for getting the very best out of modern AI.
