Stop Wasting Time: Here’s How AI Expert Andrej Karpathy Picks the Best ChatGPT Model for Every Task

If you've ever opened ChatGPT and been hit with a wall of confusing model names like GPT-4o, o3, o4-mini, and GPT-4.1, you’re not alone. You’re probably asking yourself: “Which GPT model should I use?” “Is GPT-4o good enough?” “What’s the difference between o3 and o4?”

Well, here’s the good news: AI expert and former OpenAI lead Andrej Karpathy just dropped a simple, practical ChatGPT model guide on X (formerly Twitter) — and it's exactly what we needed.

Let’s break it down so you can stop guessing and start getting work done.

Why the GPT Model Names Are So Confusing

OpenAI hasn’t exactly made it easy for users. Between the GPT and "o" series, the naming convention feels more like a riddle than a roadmap:

• First came GPT-4.0
• Then GPT-4.5
• Then, oddly, GPT-4.1
• Then a mix of o1, o3, o4… and GPT-4o?

Understandably, users are overwhelmed. You're either afraid of overkilling a simple question with a powerful model — or worse, underpowering a complex task with a lightweight one.

That’s exactly why Karpathy’s model selection method is a game changer.

Karpathy’s ChatGPT Model Strategy (Summed Up in One Sentence)

“Pick GPT-4o for fast daily tasks. Use o3 when it really matters. Treat o4 as a backup.”

Here’s how he breaks it down:

• ​GPT-4o​: Use this for everyday, low to mid-difficulty questions — e.g., “Which foods are high in fiber?” It’s fast, capable, and good enough 90% of the time.
• ​o3​: A reasoning powerhouse. Use this for anything important or complex — like understanding taxes, legal logic, or business strategy. Karpathy’s words? If you’re using ChatGPT in a professional context and not using o3, you’re NGMI (not gonna make it).
• ​o4-mini​: Currently only available in its “mini” version, o4 is surprisingly underwhelming. Karpathy himself admits he’s not sure why it exists.

He even provided a graphic to help visualize the decision flow — but the idea is simple: Fast task? Go 4o. Deep thinking? Go o3. o4? Maybe later.

Community Wisdom: Everyone Uses Models Differently

After Karpathy posted his guide, comments flooded in. Some users swore by o4-mini for its speed and performance, claiming it's “almost as good as o3” but much faster.

Karpathy’s response? A clever two-step model selection system:

“Step one: Is the task important enough for me to wait a few extra seconds? If yes, pick o3. If no, go with 4o. That’s it.”

It’s not about obsessing over the best model. It’s about reducing friction and making better, faster decisions.

Don’t Want to Switch Models Manually? Try XXAI for Seamless AI Switching

Here’s the reality: not everyone is using only ChatGPT. And not everyone wants to manually toggle between model names they don’t understand.

If you’re looking for an AI platform where you don’t have to guess which model is right — and can switch between them seamlessly — it’s worth checking out XXAI.

With ​XXAI​, you can access a wide range of top AI models in one place, instantly switching between them based on your task:

Available language & reasoning models on XXAI:

• ​OpenAI​: GPT-4.1 Nano / GPT-4.1, GPT-o3 / o3-mini
• ​Anthropic​: Claude 3.5 Haiku, Claude Sonnet 4/ Opus 4
• ​Google​: Gemini 2.5 Flash / Pro
• ​Domestic Powerhouses​: DeepSeek V3 / R1
• ​X’s Native Models​: Grok 3 / 3 Mini
• ​Search AI​: Perplexity

Need to generate images? XXAI also supports:

• Recraft V3 (Design-oriented generation)
• DALL·E 3 (Creative artwork by OpenAI)
• Flux (Visual storytelling)
• Stable Diffusion 3 (High customization and style control)

With ​one platform, one subscription​, and zero context switching, you can stop worrying about model selection — and just focus on what you want to accomplish.

Final Thought: It’s Not About the Model — It’s About the Thinking

One developer summed it up perfectly:

“Picking the wrong model won’t kill your productivity. But giving up on thinking will.”

Whether you’re using ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or XXAI, remember this: AI models are tools. Choosing the right one helps — but having clear goals, asking the right questions, and staying curious is what truly makes the difference.

Now that you have Karpathy’s cheat sheet — and platforms like XXAI to simplify your AI stack — you can finally focus on ​doing​, not just choosing.