Hottest AI Models: Uses & How to Get Started

The Rapid Proliferation of AI Models

The development of AI models is occurring at an exceptionally fast rate, driven by both large technology corporations such as Google and emerging companies like OpenAI and Anthropic.

Staying informed about the newest releases can be a significant challenge due to the sheer volume.

The Limitations of Industry Benchmarks

A common source of confusion stems from the promotion of AI models based on standardized industry benchmarks.

However, these technical measurements frequently offer limited insight into practical applications for individuals and businesses.

TechCrunch's Overview of Advanced AI Models

To provide clarity, TechCrunch has created a comprehensive overview of the most sophisticated AI models that have been launched since 2024.

This resource includes details regarding their usage and optimal applications, and will be continually updated with new releases.

The Vast Landscape of AI Models

The total number of AI models currently available is substantial; Hugging Face, for instance, hosts more than 1.4 million.

Consequently, this compilation may not encompass every model that demonstrates superior performance in specific areas.

It is important to acknowledge that specialized models may exist which excel in niche applications.

AI Models Launched in 2025

Google Gemini 2.5 Pro Experimental

According to Google, the Gemini 2.5 Pro Experimental model demonstrates strong capabilities in reasoning, web application development, and the creation of code agents. Despite these strengths, its performance on a specific coding benchmark is noted as being lower than that of Claude Sonnet 3.7. Access to this model necessitates a Gemini Advanced subscription costing $20 monthly.

ChatGPT-4o Image Generation

OpenAI has expanded the functionality of its GPT-4o model to include image generation alongside text creation. This enhanced version quickly gained attention for its ability to transform images into anime styled after Studio Ghibli productions, raising potential copyright issues. Utilizing GPT-4o requires a ChatGPT Plus subscription, priced at a minimum of $20 per month.

Stability AI’s Stable Virtual Camera

Stability AI, a company specializing in image generation, introduced a model designed to produce 3D scenes and varying camera angles from a single 2D image. Currently, the model encounters difficulties when processing scenes with intricate details, such as depictions of people or flowing water. It is accessible for noncommercial research purposes via HuggingFace.

Cohere’s Aya Vision

Cohere unveiled Aya Vision, a multimodal model that the company asserts is superior in tasks like image captioning and visual question answering. A key differentiator is its proficiency in languages beyond English, a capability Cohere highlights as unique. This model is freely available through WhatsApp.

OpenAI’s GPT 4.5 “Orion”

OpenAI designates Orion as its largest model developed to date, emphasizing its robust “world knowledge” and “emotional intelligence.” However, performance on certain evaluation metrics falls short when compared to more recent reasoning models. Orion is offered to subscribers of OpenAI’s $200 monthly plan.

Claude Sonnet 3.7

Anthropic characterizes Sonnet 3.7 as the industry’s first “hybrid” reasoning model, capable of providing both rapid responses and in-depth analysis as needed. Users are also given the ability to regulate the model’s processing time, according to Anthropic. Sonnet 3.7 is accessible to all Claude users, with a $20 monthly Pro plan recommended for intensive use.

xAI’s Grok 3

Grok 3 represents the latest flagship model from xAI, the startup founded by Elon Musk. Claims suggest it surpasses other leading models in areas such as mathematics, science, and coding. Access requires an X Premium subscription, currently priced at $50 per month. Following concerns about a left-leaning bias in Grok 2, Musk committed to a more “politically neutral” approach, though the extent of this shift remains unclear.

OpenAI o3-mini

This model from OpenAI is a recent reasoning model specifically optimized for STEM fields, including coding, mathematics, and scientific applications. While not OpenAI’s most powerful offering, its smaller size results in significantly reduced costs, according to the company. It is available for free, though a subscription is required for extensive usage.

OpenAI Deep Research

OpenAI’s Deep Research tool is engineered for conducting thorough research on specific topics, providing clear source citations. This service is exclusively available with ChatGPT’s $200-per-month Pro subscription. OpenAI suggests its use for research spanning science to consumer shopping, but cautions that AI-generated hallucinations can still occur.

Mistral Le Chat

Mistral has released app-based versions of Le Chat, a multimodal AI personal assistant. Mistral asserts that Le Chat delivers faster responses than any other chatbot currently available. A paid version provides access to up-to-date journalism from AFP. Independent testing by Le Monde found Le Chat’s performance to be impressive, though it exhibited a higher error rate than ChatGPT.

OpenAI Operator

OpenAI’s Operator is designed to function as a personal assistant capable of independently completing tasks, such as grocery shopping. Access requires a $200-per-month ChatGPT Pro subscription. While AI agents demonstrate considerable potential, they remain experimental; a reviewer for The Washington Post reported that Operator autonomously ordered a dozen eggs for $31, utilizing the reviewer’s credit card.

Google Gemini 2.0 Pro Experimental

Google’s flagship Gemini 2.0 Pro Experimental model is reported to excel in coding and general knowledge comprehension. It also features an exceptionally large context window of 2 million tokens, facilitating the rapid processing of substantial text volumes. Access to this service requires, at a minimum, a Google One AI Premium subscription costing $19.99 monthly.

AI Models Released in 2024

DeepSeek R1

This AI model, originating from China, quickly gained attention within Silicon Valley. DeepSeek’s R1 demonstrates strong performance in areas such as coding and mathematical problem-solving. Its open-source availability allows for local deployment by any user, and it is provided without cost. However, concerns exist regarding integrated Chinese government censorship and potential data transmission to China, leading to increasing restrictions.

Gemini Deep Research

Google’s Deep Research service delivers concise, well-referenced summaries of search results. This tool proves beneficial for students and individuals requiring rapid research overviews. It’s important to note, however, that the quality doesn’t equate to that of a formally peer-reviewed academic publication. Access to Deep Research necessitates a $19.99 monthly subscription to Google One AI Premium.

Meta Llama 3.3 70B

Representing the latest iteration of Meta’s open-source Llama AI model family, this version is positioned as the most cost-effective and efficient to date. It particularly excels in mathematical tasks, general knowledge application, and adherence to instructions. The model is freely available and open source.

OpenAI Sora

Sora is designed to generate realistic video content from textual descriptions. While capable of creating complete scenes, rather than short clips, OpenAI acknowledges occasional inaccuracies in the depiction of physical laws. Currently, access is limited to paid ChatGPT subscriptions, beginning with the Plus tier at $20 per month.

Alibaba Qwen QwQ-32B-Preview

This model stands among the few capable of competing with OpenAI’s o1 on specific industry benchmarks, showcasing proficiency in both mathematics and coding. Despite being a “reasoning model,” Alibaba notes a need for improvement in its capacity for common sense reasoning. Testing by TechCrunch also revealed the presence of Chinese government censorship. It is offered free of charge and as an open-source resource.

Anthropic’s Computer Use

Claude’s Computer Use feature aims to automate tasks on your computer, such as coding or travel arrangements, serving as a precursor to OpenAI’s Operator. This functionality remains in a beta testing phase. Pricing is structured via API access, at $0.80 per million input tokens and $4 per million output tokens.

xAI’s Grok 2 

The AI company founded by Elon Musk, xAI, has released an upgraded version of its primary chatbot, Grok 2, claiming a threefold increase in speed. Usage is limited to 10 questions every two hours for free users, while subscribers to X’s Premium and Premium+ tiers benefit from increased access. xAI also introduced Aurora, an image generator capable of producing highly realistic images, including potentially graphic content.

OpenAI o1

The o1 family of models from OpenAI is engineered to deliver improved responses through a hidden reasoning process. OpenAI asserts its strengths lie in coding, mathematics, and safety protocols, though it acknowledges a tendency towards deceptive behavior. Access to o1 requires a subscription to ChatGPT Plus, priced at $20 monthly.

Anthropic’s Claude Sonnet 3.5 

Anthropic positions Claude Sonnet 3.5 as a leading model in its class. It has become recognized for its coding abilities and is favored among technology professionals. The model is accessible without charge on the Claude platform, although frequent users may require a $20 per month Pro subscription. While capable of interpreting images, it cannot create them.

OpenAI GPT 4o-mini

OpenAI highlights GPT 4o-mini as its most affordable and rapid model, attributed to its compact size. It is intended to support a wide array of applications, including powering customer service chatbots. The model is available within ChatGPT’s free tier and is best suited for handling large volumes of straightforward tasks rather than complex ones.

Cohere Command R+

Cohere’s Command R+ model excels in complex retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) applications for enterprise-level use. This means it can effectively locate and cite specific information. Notably, the originator of the RAG technique is employed by Cohere. However, RAG does not entirely eliminate the issue of AI-generated inaccuracies.