o4 is OpenAI's latest entry in its dedicated reasoning model line, succeeding o3 with improvements to problem-solving accuracy, instruction following, and tool use within extended reasoning contexts. Like its predecessors, o4 applies prolonged chain-of-thought computation before producing answers, making it well suited to problems that benefit from deliberate, multi-step analysis rather than fast pattern matching.
The model targets the most demanding use cases in the OpenAI lineup — complex mathematics, competitive programming, scientific reasoning, and agentic tasks that require planning across many steps. It supports tool use including code execution and web search within its reasoning loop, enabling it to ground conclusions in real computation and current data.
Key Features
Extended internal chain-of-thought reasoning before output
Advanced mathematical and scientific problem-solving capability
Competitive programming and algorithm design proficiency
Tool use within the reasoning loop including code execution
Multi-step planning for complex agentic tasks
Strong instruction following on precisely specified, complex prompts
Ideal Use Cases
Advanced mathematics and formal reasoning tasks
Competitive programming and complex algorithm implementation
Scientific research assistance requiring multi-step derivations
Agentic workflows with complex multi-tool planning requirements
High-stakes analytical tasks where deliberate reasoning is critical
Example Prompts for o4
Technical Specifications
| Provider | OpenAI |
| Category | Reasoning |
| Modality | Text -> Text (reasoning) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Try o4 now
Start using o4 instantly — 100 free credits, no credit card required. Access 750+ AI models through one platform.