You've learned how AI "thinks" through patterns. But not all AI models work the same way! Some are built for deep, complex reasoning while others excel at specific tasks.
OpenAI's o3 and Claude Opus are reasoning models. GPT-4o and Gemini Flash are standard models.
Engagement Message
Can you describe a programming situation where deep reasoning might be needed?
Reasoning models like o3 and Claude Opus break down complex problems step-by-step. They literally show their "thinking" process as they work.
You'll notice they take longer - sometimes minutes instead of seconds - but deliver deeper analysis.
Engagement Message
What's a complex coding problem that would be worth waiting minutes for an answer?
Here's how to spot a reasoning model: it takes time, costs more per use, and shows intermediate steps like "Let me think about this..."
For example, ask o3 to debug why your application crashes randomly, and it'll walk through memory usage, race conditions, error handling, data flow.
Engagement Message
Have you ever seen an AI show its step-by-step thinking process?
Standard models like GPT-4o and Gemini Flash give quick, direct answers. They're perfect for routine coding tasks that follow patterns.
Ask GPT-4o "Write a function to validate email addresses" and you get an instant, accurate response without lengthy analysis.
Engagement Message
What do you normally ask your favorite AI tool?
Use reasoning models for complex questions like: "Why is my distributed system failing?" or "How should I refactor this legacy codebase?"
The key difference: complex problems vs. routine tasks.
Engagement Message
Which model type would you use to write a standard sorting algorithm?
