December 20 (Reuters) – OpenAI has revealed that it is currently testing two new reasoning AI models, named o3 and o3 mini. This move highlights the increasing competition with tech giants like Google in the race to develop more advanced AI capable of solving complex problems.
CEO Sam Altman announced that the AI startup plans to release the o3 mini model by the end of January, followed by the full o3 model. These new models are expected to be more robust and capable than existing ones, potentially attracting new investments and users.
Backed by Microsoft, OpenAI had previously launched the o1 AI models in September. These models were designed to spend more time processing queries, enabling them to tackle more difficult problems in fields such as science, coding, and mathematics.
The new o3 and o3 mini models, currently undergoing internal safety testing, are anticipated to surpass the capabilities of the o1 models. OpenAI is also opening an application process for external researchers to test the o3 models before their public release, with applications closing on January 10.
OpenAI has been a key player in the AI arms race since the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022. The company’s growing popularity and new product launches have helped it secure a $6.6 billion funding round in October.
Meanwhile, Google’s parent company Alphabet has also been active in the AI space, releasing the second generation of its AI model, Gemini, earlier this month. This move is part of Google’s efforts to regain its lead in the AI technology race.
