How to Choose the Right AI Model (Without Losing Your Mind)

There are too many damn models.

When OpenAI dropped GPT-4o, I thought, finally, a streamlined powerhouse. But then came 4.0 Mini. And 4.5. And 03. And Deep Research. And… you get the idea.

Choosing the right one feels like ordering coffee in Shoreditch: overwhelming, overpriced, and somehow you’re still not sure if you picked the best one.

So here’s a no-fluff breakdown of the models — and when not to use them.

GPT-4o Mini For when you want fast, not fancy.

This is your AI sidekick for everyday admin. Need to know if you should refrigerate eggs in the UK? Mini’s your mate. It’s built for lightning-fast responses, simple tasks, and zero drama.

Perfect for:

• Customer support bots
• Basic automation
• Day-to-day Q&A
• Tasks you’d feel bad bothering a human with

Not so perfect for:

• Deep reasoning
• Nuanced writing
• Anything involving visual finesse

It’s fast, lightweight, and always available. Like a pocket calculator for your brain.

GPT-4o The all-rounder with charm.

This one’s the Swiss Army knife. Not the best at any one thing — but dangerously good at juggling lots.

It explains concepts clearly, formats beautifully, and plays well with images, voice, and code. I’ve used it to draft email replies, translate text, explain complex ideas, and even brainstorm product names — all in the same chat.

Think of it as your creative collaborator. Not the genius in the room, but the one who always gets things done.

GPT-4.5 Human-like writing, persuasive tone, emotionally intelligent.

This one’s a stunner.

You don’t use GPT-4.5 to find quick answers. You use it to feel something. It’s slower, yes — but deliberately so. It writes with rhythm, adapts its tone, and nails the subtleties most models miss.

This is the model I’d trust to:

• Write a heartfelt resignation letter
• Pitch an emotional brand story
• Draft a nuanced client message
• Persuade a sceptic

Its emotional IQ is high. Too high, maybe. You’ll find yourself rereading its paragraphs like they were written by a close friend who somehow knows you better than you know yourself.

One catch: It’s capped at around 50 messages a week. Use it like saffron.

GPT-03 The agentic beast.

03 isn’t just a chatbot — it’s an AI agent. It doesn’t just respond. It reasons, acts, fetches, zooms, crops, searches, and reports.

Upload an image of a random street from GeoGuessr? It’ll crop into road signs, scrape street view, and tell you which park in New Jersey you’re in.

Ask for a market forecast? It’ll search, cross-check sources, and visualise the data — sometimes better than your analyst ever did.

Examples of what you can do with 03:

• Drop in a screenshot of a user dashboard — it'll tell you what the data suggests.
• Ask for a competitor analysis — it’ll do a live search, summarise articles, and link sources.
• Request a 6-month go-to-market plan — it’ll build timelines, spot gaps, and create slide-ready outputs.
• Feed it product feedback — it’ll cluster insights, extract key friction points, and recommend action steps.

It thinks like a strategist. Works like an intern. Produces like a team.

Use it when:

• You want real-world data in your decision-making
• You’re building something complex
• You need image analysis beyond alt-text
• You want a research assistant who never clocks off

03 is power. Treat it with respect.

GPT-4 Mini High Maths nerd. Zero ego.

Rarely discussed. Criminally underrated.

This one is built for mathematical reasoning. Not in the “what’s 12 x 14” sense — more like “can you calculate net profit over six months based on fixed operating costs and synthetic CSV data?”

If you’re building models, forecasting revenue, or crunching data, it’s your go-to. It reasons better, checks its own logic, and doesn’t hallucinate (as often).

Definitely not for fluff. Only bring it out when numbers matter.

Deep Research vs 03 Speed or depth? Pick your poison.

Both can research. Deep Research is the tortoise: slow, methodical, detailed. It’ll take 15–25 minutes, ask clarifying questions, and build a report like a proper research assistant.

03 is the hare: faster, more fluid, and good enough for most tasks. The trade-off? Fewer queries and higher cost.

So:

• Use Deep Research if you want a mid-length essay, with minimal back and forth
• Use 03 if you want a dynamic agent that can think with you

Here’s the thing:

If you’re still treating ChatGPT like a glorified notepad, you’re missing the point.

These models are built for specific, high-leverage use — and if you learn to work with them, not just through them, you get compounding returns.

GPT-03 can run entire research projects while you sleep. 4.5 can write brand copy that lands better than your marketing team. Mini can blitz your inbox before you’ve finished your morning coffee.

This isn’t about tech hype. It’s about knowing your tools.

And using them like your next breakthrough depends on it.

As Sam Altman (apparently) said: "If you are not skillsmaxxing with o3 at minimum 3 hours every day, ngmi."

Half joke, half prophecy.