OpenAI Skips o2 and Debuts New o3 ‘Reasoning’ Model
- Tech Brief
- Dec 23, 2024
- 2 min read

OpenAI has introduced o3, its latest reasoning-focused AI model, on the final day of its “12 Days of Shipmas” campaign. This model represents OpenAI's most advanced effort in developing chain-of-thought reasoning, aimed at enhancing the accuracy of chatbot responses. While it’s not yet available for general use, safety researchers can preview it starting today.
What Makes o3 Unique?
Chain-of-Thought Reasoning:
o3 adopts a systematic approach to answering queries, simulating a human-like reasoning process.
For instance, when asked, "Can habaneros be grown in the Pacific Northwest?" the model might break it down into sub-questions like:
Where do habaneros typically grow?
What are the ideal conditions for growing habaneros?
What is the climate of the Pacific Northwest?
Reasoning Time Adjustments:
Users can choose between low, medium, or high reasoning time.
Higher reasoning time uses more computational resources to improve accuracy and depth of responses.
Performance Benchmarks:
Scored 2727 on Codeforces, showcasing exceptional coding abilities (99th percentile is at 2400).
Achieved 96.7% on the 2024 American Invitational Mathematics Exam.
Safety & Red-Teaming:
OpenAI plans rigorous testing with researchers to mitigate risks of generating harmful or misleading responses.
Competition and Industry Context
Reasoning Models: The focus on reasoning represents a shift in AI research as raw computational power alone no longer yields proportional improvements.
Google DeepMind recently launched Gemini Deep Research, a reasoning model capable of generating detailed reports by analyzing multiple online sources.
OpenAI and its competitors aim to tackle the problem of generative AI accuracy and utility.
Market Position:
OpenAI remains a leader with hundreds of millions of users and its collaboration with Apple.
Google is integrating its Gemini models into its search interface, signaling fierce competition.
Historical Parallel:
The race between AI giants mirrors the late ’90s search engine rivalry, where only a few (like Google) survived and dominated.
Looking Ahead
While o3's benchmarks are promising, its performance in real-world applications remains to be tested. OpenAI’s previous releases, like Sora, highlighted the challenges in achieving consistent accuracy. The stakes are high as these companies race to create tools that not only provide better answers but reshape how users interact with digital knowledge.
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