April 25, 2025|11 min reading
OpenAI o1 vs. GPT-4o: Unpacking the Power of Merlio's New AI Models

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Merlio is excited to introduce the latest advancements in artificial intelligence with OpenAI's o1 series of models. Launched on September 12, 2024, these innovative AI models are designed to tackle complex tasks demanding precision and logical thinking. In this article, we'll delve into the distinctions between Merlio's OpenAI o1 and GPT-4o, highlighting their respective strengths and ideal applications.
What is Merlio's OpenAI o1?
Merlio's OpenAI o1 represents a new generation of AI language models, expertly crafted to address intricate and challenging problems that necessitate accuracy and robust logical reasoning. Currently, the o1 family available through Merlio includes:
- o1-preview: The flagship model, currently in its early "preview" phase, showcasing remarkable potential.
- o1-mini: A streamlined and faster model particularly adept at coding tasks.
The name "o1" signifies a significant leap forward in AI capabilities for complex reasoning. As a substantial advancement, Merlio is proud to offer this groundbreaking series.
OpenAI o1 vs. GPT-4o: Key Differences
While Merlio's OpenAI o1 presents a compelling alternative to GPT-4o, it's crucial to understand that it's not intended as a direct replacement. The fact that it carries a distinct name underscores this difference.
Being in the initial stages of development, Merlio's OpenAI o1 currently lacks some functionalities present in GPT-4o, such as file and image uploading. However, where the o1 models truly shine is in the accuracy and consistency of their responses, coupled with strong logical reasoning. This makes them exceptionally well-suited for specialized domains like:
- Quantum physics
- Genetics
- Medicine
- Software development
Unlike models that primarily generate answers, Merlio's OpenAI o1 constructs a detailed chain of reasoning. This meticulous approach might result in slightly longer response times – typically between 5-10 seconds, and occasionally up to 20-30 seconds. However, this deliberate processing significantly reduces the occurrence of hallucinations, where a chatbot fabricates information.
Strengths and Performance of Merlio's OpenAI o1
As mentioned earlier, the core strengths of Merlio's OpenAI o1 lie in its response accuracy and resilience against hallucinations. Let's examine its performance in various benchmarks:
Merlio's OpenAI o1 demonstrates exceptional capabilities, ranking in the 89th percentile on competitive programming challenges (Codeforces), placing within the top 500 students in the US during a qualifier for the USA Math Olympiad (AIME), and even surpassing human PhD-level accuracy on the GPQA benchmark, which assesses knowledge in physics, biology, and chemistry.
(Image: A visual representation comparing o1 and GPT-4o performance in Competition Math, Competition Code, and PhD-Level Science Questions. Use the data provided in the original blog.)
On the 2024 AIME exams, GPT-4o correctly solved only 13% of problems, while o1 achieved an impressive 83%.
In the GPQA Diamond test, which features PhD-level science questions in physics, biology, and chemistry, Merlio's o1 models outperformed even human experts – a feat previously unattained by artificial intelligence.
(Image: A bar chart comparing GPT-4o (Turquoise) and o1 (Red) performance on the GPQA Diamond test.)
The chart below illustrates o1's dominance across a wide range of disciplines, from mathematics to English literature. In the MMLU test, encompassing 57 categories, the o1 model excelled in 54 of them. Here are a few examples:
- Global Facts
- College Chemistry
- College Mathematics
- Professional Law
- Public Relations
- Econometrics
- Formal Logic
Interestingly, the o1-mini model exhibits superior performance in coding compared to the o1-preview, as evidenced by both Codeforces and HumanEval benchmarks:
(Image: A graph illustrating coding proficiency benchmarks for o1-mini and o1-preview.)
Beyond standardized tests, Merlio also evaluated human preference between o1-preview and GPT-4o in several practical applications:
- Personal Writing
- Editing Text
- Computer Programming
- Data Analysis
- Mathematical Calculation
In these evaluations, human trainers were presented with anonymized responses from both models and asked to choose their preferred option.
(Image: A bar chart showing o1-preview's win rate (%) versus GPT-4o in the listed categories.)
The results indicated a strong preference for o1-preview in reasoning-intensive areas like data analysis, coding, and math. However, GPT-4o was favored for natural language tasks such as writing and editing, suggesting that o1-preview is more specialized in its current form.
Merlio's OpenAI o1 Compared to Other Large Language Models
Merlio's OpenAI o1-preview demonstrates remarkable intelligence. On the Norway Mensa test, it achieved an IQ of 120, significantly surpassing other tested language models. The peak on the following graph represents the average human IQ.
(Image: A graph comparing the IQ scores of various large language models, with OpenAI o1-preview prominently positioned above the average human IQ.)
As the graph clearly illustrates, Merlio's OpenAI o1 excels across major benchmarks and internal evaluations. Its superior performance speaks volumes about its advanced capabilities.
The Power of Chain of Thought in Merlio's OpenAI o1
A key characteristic of Merlio's o1 series is its ability to engage in chain of thought reasoning. This means the model doesn't just provide a final answer but also outlines the logical steps it took to arrive at that conclusion. This detailed reasoning process can offer valuable insights into the model's problem-solving approach.
Let's revisit a challenging question from the IQ test:
(Include the IQ test question image as described in the original blog.)
Merlio's o1 correctly identified Option D and provided the following explanation:
Option D — By analyzing the patterns in the grid, we see that each column combines certain components to include all elements (V, upside-down V, rectangle sides) by the third row. In the third column, components Rleft and Rright (the rectangle's sides) have not yet appeared. Therefore, the correct answer for the empty cell is Option D, which includes the normal 'v' and the two sides of the rectangle, completing the set of components for that column.
Consider a simpler puzzle:
(Include the family puzzle question as described in the original blog.)
Merlio's o1 employed the following chain of thought:
To solve this puzzle, we need to determine the first names of each family member based on the given statements and the condition that exactly two statements are true. Let’s break down the information step by step.
Now the model lists the family members, their possible roles and names; analyzes the statements, finding out which of those are true and which are false. Then based on all that the model gives the final answer.
Answer: Mr. Smith is George, Mrs. Smith is Virginia, Son is Howard, Daughter is Dorothy.
Conclusion: The Specialized Power of Merlio's OpenAI o1
Merlio's o1-preview model showcases exceptional logical reasoning capabilities, making it invaluable for tackling complex scientific and mathematical problems. The o1-mini model stands out for its proficiency in code generation. However, it's important to recognize that both OpenAI o1 models available through Merlio are currently specialized tools. They may not possess the broad versatility of GPT-4o for routine or creative tasks like text manipulation, literary translation, or general editing. Nevertheless, within their specific domains of mathematics and the natural and exact sciences, Merlio's OpenAI o1 models represent an unparalleled level of performance.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Merlio's OpenAI o1
Q: What are the primary strengths of Merlio's OpenAI o1 models? A: The main strengths lie in their high accuracy, strong logical reasoning, and reduced tendency for hallucinations, particularly in complex scientific and mathematical domains. The o1-mini also excels in coding tasks.
Q: How does Merlio's OpenAI o1 differ from GPT-4o? A: While GPT-4o is a more versatile general-purpose model with features like file and image uploading, Merlio's OpenAI o1 models currently focus on delivering highly accurate and logically sound reasoning, especially in specialized fields. They are not direct replacements but rather powerful tools for specific applications.
Q: In what areas does Merlio's OpenAI o1 excel? A: Merlio's o1 models demonstrate exceptional performance in areas requiring deep reasoning, such as quantum physics, genetics, medicine, software development, advanced mathematics, and complex problem-solving.
Q: Is Merlio's OpenAI o1 slower than other language models? A: Due to its detailed chain-of-thought reasoning process, Merlio's o1 models might have slightly longer response times (5-30 seconds) compared to some other faster models. However, this trade-off often results in more accurate and reliable answers.
Q: Can Merlio's OpenAI o1 handle creative writing or editing tasks? A: Currently, Merlio's o1 models are more specialized for analytical and logical tasks. While they can generate text, they might not be the preferred choice for creative writing or extensive editing compared to more general-purpose models like GPT-4o.
Q: Which Merlio OpenAI o1 model is better for coding? A: The o1-mini model has shown superior performance in coding benchmarks compared to the o1-preview.
Q: Where can I learn more about Merlio's AI offerings, including OpenAI o1? A: Please visit Merlio's official website or contact our support team for detailed information and updates on our AI models and their capabilities.
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