GPT-4o Review: OpenAI’s Omni Model
GPT-4o (the “o” is for “omni”) is OpenAI’s multimodal flagship. It sees, hears, and speaks—all in one model.
Here’s everything you need to know.
What Makes GPT-4o Different
True Multimodal
Previous models patched together different systems. GPT-4o is natively multimodal:
- Text in, text out
- Images in, text out
- Audio in, audio out
- Any combination
This isn’t just “GPT-4 with plugins.” It’s a single model handling everything.
Speed
GPT-4o responds in real-time for voice conversations. Average audio response time: 320 milliseconds. That’s human-like conversation speed.
Cost
50% cheaper than GPT-4 Turbo via API. This matters for developers.
Free Tier Access
Unlike GPT-4, GPT-4o is available on the free ChatGPT tier. Limited, but available.
Features Deep Dive
Vision
GPT-4o analyzes images effectively:
- Read text in images
- Describe visual content
- Solve visual problems
- Analyze charts and graphs
Real use cases: Reading receipts, understanding diagrams, solving math written on paper.
Voice Mode
The advanced voice mode is impressive:
- Natural conversation flow
- Emotional expression
- Interruption handling
- Multiple voices available
Limitation: Rolling out gradually. Not available to all users.
Real-Time API
For developers: stream audio in and out in real-time. Build voice assistants, phone agents, interactive experiences.
Performance
Benchmarks
GPT-4o matches or exceeds GPT-4 Turbo on most benchmarks while being faster and cheaper.
| Benchmark | GPT-4o | GPT-4 Turbo |
|---|---|---|
| MMLU | 88.7% | 86.4% |
| HumanEval | 90.2% | 85.4% |
| Speed | Faster | Slower |
| Cost | Lower | Higher |
Real-World Quality
In our testing:
- Writing: Comparable to GPT-4 Turbo
- Coding: Slightly improved
- Reasoning: Similar
- Multimodal: Significantly better
Pricing
API
| Model | Input (per 1M tokens) | Output (per 1M tokens) |
|---|---|---|
| GPT-4o | $5.00 | $15.00 |
| GPT-4 Turbo | $10.00 | $30.00 |
50% cheaper across the board.
ChatGPT
- Free: Limited GPT-4o access
- Plus ($20/month): More GPT-4o, priority access
- Team ($25/user/month): Higher limits, team features
Versus Competition
vs Claude 3.5 Sonnet
| Aspect | GPT-4o | Claude 3.5 Sonnet |
|---|---|---|
| Writing | Good | Better |
| Coding | Better | Good |
| Voice | Yes | No |
| Vision | Yes | Yes |
| Context | 128K | 200K |
vs Gemini Pro
| Aspect | GPT-4o | Gemini Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Quality | Better | Good |
| Speed | Fast | Very fast |
| Integration | Broad | Google-focused |
| Free access | Limited | Generous |
Best Use Cases
Voice Applications
The real-time audio makes GPT-4o ideal for:
- Voice assistants
- Language tutoring
- Customer service bots
- Accessibility tools
Visual Analysis
Strong vision capabilities suit:
- Document processing
- Visual Q&A
- Educational tools
- Creative assistance
General Use
For most ChatGPT users, GPT-4o is now the default. It’s fast, capable, and handles most tasks well.
Limitations
Knowledge Cutoff
Still has a training data cutoff. Not real-time information (without browsing features).
Hallucinations
Still makes things up occasionally. Verify important information.
Voice Availability
Advanced voice features rolling out slowly. Not everyone has access.
Reasoning Limits
For very complex reasoning, OpenAI’s o1 models are better (but slower).
Who Should Use GPT-4o
Everyone using ChatGPT. It’s the default for good reason.
Developers: Cheaper and faster than GPT-4 Turbo. Migrate.
Voice applications: The real-time audio API opens new possibilities.
Our Verdict
GPT-4o represents AI becoming more natural and accessible. Faster, cheaper, and more capable than its predecessor.
Strengths:
- Real-time voice
- Strong multimodal
- Cost-effective
- Fast responses
Weaknesses:
- Writing slightly below Claude
- Still hallucinates
- Gradual feature rollout
Rating: 9/10
It’s not revolutionary over GPT-4 Turbo, but it’s better in almost every way. The standard just moved up.
GPT-4o makes advanced AI more accessible than ever. That’s good for everyone.