OpenAI Launches o3-Mini Reasoning Model, Now Free on ChatGPT

OpenAI has officially launched o3-mini, a faster and more accurate reasoning model now available on ChatGPT and OpenAI’s API services.

For the first time, a version of OpenAI’s reasoning models is free for all ChatGPT users, albeit with rate limits.

What’s New With o3-Mini?

The o3-mini model outperforms o1 in coding, math, and reasoning tasks, while responding 24% faster than o1-mini. Like its predecessor, it provides step-by-step explanations instead of just delivering answers.

OpenAI has also introduced o3-mini-high for paid users, offering even more advanced reasoning at the cost of slightly longer response times.

How to Access o3-Mini

• Free ChatGPT users can now try o3-mini under the “Reason” feature.
• Plus and Teams users get 150 messages per day, triple the previous limit.
• Pro users ($200/month) receive unlimited access to the model.
• Developers can use o3-mini via OpenAI’s API services, including Chat Completions, Assistants, and Batch API.
• Microsoft products such as Azure OpenAI Service and GitHub Copilot also now support o3-mini.

Why Now?

This move comes shortly after Microsoft made o1 free for Copilot users and amid growing competition from DeepSeek, a rising AI player.

By offering a free reasoning model, OpenAI aims to attract more users and developers while maintaining its dominance in AI-powered reasoning.

Will o3-mini be a game-changer for ChatGPT users?