ChatGPT 4o vs ChatGPT 4 - What's the Difference?

OpenAI just rolled out an enhanced version of ChatGPT 4, and it’s called ChatGPT 4o. But what makes 4o so special compared to its predecessor? 

In this article, we'll break down the key distinctions between these two AI models. You'll also get an inside look at ChatGPT 4o's unique features, performance capabilities, and real-world applications. By the end, you should know if upgrading to 4o is the right call for you.

In a hurry? Here’s a quick summary of the difference between ChatGPT 4 and 4o:

What is ChatGPT 4o?

ChatGPT 4o is OpenAI’s latest multimodal AI model. The "o" stands for "omni," meaning this AI can understand and generate pretty much any type of data you throw at it - text, audio, images, and video. 

Launched on May 13, 2024, ChatGPT 4o is built upon the capabilities of ChatGPT 4. But it takes things to a whole new level with some serious performance upgrades. One significant improvement is its response speed which is twice as fast as GPT 4, all while being 50% cheaper. 

ChatGPT 4o packs all these features into a versatile AI assistant that can engage with you across multiple platforms and modalities: 

• Enhanced support for non-English languages
• Capability to analyze and generate charts and graphs from data
• Detailed descriptions and additional information about images
• Creation of personalized versions of GPTs without coding 
• Memory capabilities to recall past interactions 

ChatGPT 4o vs ChatGPT 4 - Key Differences

ChatGPT 4 and its successor 4o are cut from the same cloth – both built on the powerful foundation of large transformer neural networks. But that's where their similarities end. ChatGPT 4 laid the groundwork while 4o represents a refinement and revolution of its capabilities.

Let's take a closer look at their differences.

Performance

ChatGPT 4 can comprehend complex queries and generate nuanced responses. However, all that capability requires a lot of resources which might be too costly for most businesses.

ChatGPT 4o, on the other hand, is the upgraded version that brings a lot to the table. First off, it matches GPT 4 Turbo’s performance for written tasks. 4o is also designed to be faster and cheaper to use via the API. Hence, you can interpret text, sounds, videos, and visuals almost instantly and accurately.

Multi-Modal Features

ChatGPT 4 is limited to text-based interactions. It can’t handle tasks that include videos, sounds, or visuals.

ChatGPT 4o breaks the mold. Unlike its text-focused predecessor, it understands and responds to videos, images, and even your voice. For example, you can ask it to provide an audio explanation of a cool picture you found online. This multi-modal capability makes conversations richer and opens doors for innovative applications.

Speed and Efficiency

ChatGPT 4 is efficient at handling text-based queries and generating responses. But ChatGPT 4o takes it a step further by responding to text, image, and audio inputs in as little as 232 milliseconds. That’s about the same speed as human conversation! This swift response time makes interactions feel more natural and lifelike.

Compared to GPT-4 Turbo, ChatGPT 4o is twice as fast, costs half as much, and offers five times the rate limits. Its ability to process diverse forms of input so quickly means users can enjoy smooth, responsive interactions regardless of the format.

Accuracy

ChatGPT 4 works well for long conversations and provides answers that are on-point across a huge range of topics. 

ChatGPT 4o builds upon these strengths by integrating audio and image processing into the mix. This holistic understanding allows it to generate outputs with text, audio, and visuals for more comprehensive responses. Thanks to intense training on incredibly diverse data, 4o achieves new heights in precision and accuracy over GPT-4.

For example, if you need a coding solution, ChatGPT 4o provides more accurate results and detailed explanations. It's fine-tuned to minimize mistakes and errors, so you get the most relevant and correct answers possible.

Safety and Compliance

ChatGPT 4 incorporates safety filters to block harmful content and ethical guidelines for safe user interactions. 

However, ChatGPT 4o takes safety even further by enhancing measures across text, image, and audio outputs. It uses advanced filtering, post-training adjustments, and new voice-specific safety systems developed with over 70 experts in fields like social psychology, bias and fairness, and misinformation to mitigate new risks.

OpenAI expects more novel risks with the new modalities. The safety system isn't perfect yet, but they promised to continue improving their infrastructure and safety measures for future releases, including more voice capabilities.

ChatGPT 4o vs ChatGPT 4- Pros and Cons

Both ChatGPT 4 and 4o have their unique advantages and limitations. Here’s a quick rundown:

ChatGPT 4 Pros

• ChatGPT 4 excels in processing and producing clear, coherent text. It's great at understanding the nuances of language which makes a great option for generating well-written content.
• It can handle complex queries and respond with more accurate and relevant information.
• Whether you need help drafting an email, writing an essay, or explaining a concept, ChatGPT 4 is up to the task. Its ability to generate detailed and articulate text makes it a valuable assistant for a wide range of writing tasks.

ChatGPT 4 Cons

• ChatGPT 4 can only handle text. It cannot interpret or generate images, audio, or video content. So, if your project involves multimedia elements, ChatGPT 4 won’t be able to assist. This can be a drawback for users needing a more comprehensive tool.
• ChatGPT 4 requires more computational resources. This means running the AI model on low-end hardware might result in reduced accuracy and slower performance.

ChatGPT 4o Pros

• ChatGPT 4o goes beyond text. It can understand and generate responses based on images, videos, and audio, making it versatile and useful for a wider range of tasks.
• ChatGPT 4o is not limited to the English language - you can interact with it in any language you want.
• It responds more quickly and efficiently.
• Way more affordable to use compared to ChatGPT 4.
• Free users get premium features like custom bots, file uploads, and web browsing.

ChatGPT 4o Cons

• ChatGPT 4o might not always grasp subtle emotional cues in conversations.
• ChatGPT 4o can find it challenging to keep track of who is saying what. This can lead to confusion in group interactions.
• The audio features are currently limited to preset options, so you might not have the flexibility for custom audio interactions just yet. However, OpenAI is working on improving this for future releases.

ChatGPT 4o and ChatGPT 4 Pricing

To get access to ChatGPT 4, you'll need to subscribe to ChatGPT Plus at $20 per month. This subscription gives you higher usage limits compared to the free version, ChatGPT 3.5. If you're someone who heavily relies on AI for your daily tasks, the Plus subscription might be the best option for you.

Now, things get interesting with ChatGPT 4o. The AI model is available to all users, including those on the free tier. That means you can enjoy advanced AI capabilities that were previously exclusive to premium users, without paying a dime. Some of the features you can take advantage of are the GPT Store for custom bots, the memory feature for continuous conversations, uploading photos and documents for discussions, web browsing for updated context, and advanced data analysis.

So, is it still worth it to pay for ChatGPT Plus if you can access GPT-4o for free? 

Well, here's our take on it. Free users can access premium features but have limited message capacity with 4o. Plus subscribers get five times more capacity and continued GPT-4 access even after hitting the free limit.

Plus users also get early access to new features like the upcoming Voice Mode and a desktop app for macOS.

So, if you're a heavy user who needs more flexibility and access, we highly recommend getting the ChatGPT Plus subscription. For casual users who don't need as much capacity, the free tier should be sufficient.

ChatGPT 4o vs ChatGPT 4 - FAQs

Is ChatGPT 4o free?

Yes, ChatGPT 4o is available to free users and offers advanced features without needing a subscription.

What is the difference between GPT 4 and ChatGPT 4?

GPT-4 is the underlying model, while ChatGPT 4 is how this model is applied within OpenAI’s ChatGPT platform.

Is ChatGPT 4o better than GPT 4?

ChatGPT 4o is an enhanced version of GPT-4, with multimodal capabilities, faster responses, and better support for non-English languages.

Can I use GPT 4 for free?

GPT-4 typically requires a subscription, but GPT-4o, its enhanced version, is available for free.

Is it worth it to pay for ChatGPT 4?

Paying for ChatGPT Plus can be worthwhile if you’re a heavy user as it offers higher usage limits and early access to new features.

In Summary

While ChatGPT 4 is still a rockstar for pure text interactions, 4o just blows it out of the water by fusing various modalities into one lean, mean AI machine. We have to say, this enhancement is indeed a game-changer!

Now, if you're a business or an individual looking for an AI solution that doesn't compromise, the ChatGPT Plus subscription is where it's at. With it, you get unlimited access to 4o's full potential and early beta features. But if you’re a casual user, OpenAI graciously offers free access so you can have a taste of this remarkable tool firsthand.

As OpenAI keeps polishing those safety features, we're confident any remaining kinks will get ironed out. We’re excited about the future possibilities - are you?