Problem
Below are some of the most popular LLM models:
One of the biggest challenge faced by people now is: which one should I use?
Chat Model vs Reasoning Model
First of all, it's important to understand the key differences between Chat Models and Reasoning Models:
| Aspect | Chat Models (e.g. ChatGPT-4o, Gemini 2.0 Flash) | Reasoning Models (e.g. ChatGPT o1, Gemini 2.5 Pro, DeepSeek-R1) |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Purpose | Designed for natural conversation and back-and-forth dialogue.
Think of it like talking to a knowledgeable friend who’s good at casual conversation. |
Built specifically for step-by-step problem solving and logical analysis.
Like having a methodical expert who breaks down complex problems. |
| Strengths | Great at small talk, general knowledge sharing, and maintaining context in conversations. They understand social cues and can adapt their tone. | Excel at math, coding, scientific analysis, and situations requiring careful logical thinking. They’re like having a detective who methodically solves puzzles. |
| Output Style | More conversational and fluid, often providing context and related information naturally. | More structured and analytical, often showing their work and explaining each step of their reasoning. |
| Best Use Cases | Customer service, general Q&A, writing assistance, brainstorming | Complex problem solving, mathematical analysis, scientific research, strategic planning |
In short,
Use Chat Model: for conversation and content creation
Use Reasoning Model: for math, coding, scientific analysis, and situations requiring careful logical thinking
When to Use What
Use the right tool for the right thing. Here’s a quick Cheat Sheet when to use what:
| If you need… | Then use… | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| An all-purpose, fast, balanced AI (your go-to) | GPT-4o | Your all-around, fastest, most versatile tool. Great for general conversation, quick answers, and understanding images. It’s the default “good at everything” choice. |
| To solve a very complex puzzle or logic problem; coding | GPT-o1 / Claude Sonnet 3.5 / Deepseek-R1 | Your specialized logic calculators. Use these when you need the AI to “show its work” and reason step-by-step without mistakes, like for advanced coding or intricate strategy. |
| To analyze a huge document or book | Gemini 2.5 Pro / Google NotebookLM | Your super-powered document reader. If you need to ask deep questions about a whole book, a long contract, or a massive report, this one has the best memory. Also refer to this article. |
| To write an essay, blog post, or nuanced content | Claude Sonnet 3.5 | Your thoughtful writer. It often has a slight edge in understanding nuance, tone, and producing high-quality, structured long-form content. |
| To learn a new topic | ChatGPT Study Mode | If you enjoy learning new thing, Try this - so much more fun! |
| To search for latest info / Web Search / Google Search |
Perplexity | It’s like Google Search + ChatGPT |
| English / Chinese translation; Chinese homework; Anything involving Chinese | Deepseek-R1 | Its training data includes more Chinese |
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