I’m excited to try the new API models just announced: GPT‑4.1, GPT‑4.1 mini, and GPT‑4.1 nano. These models are a big step forward, with improvements in coding, instruction following, and understanding long contexts.
With support for up to 1 million tokens and a knowledge cutoff updated to June 2024, they’re built for handling more complex tasks while being more cost-effective.
Let's see what they can do!
What is OpenAI's GPT-4.1 Model? What is new?
Today marks an exciting new chapter in AI with the release of three advanced models available via the API: GPT‑4.1, GPT‑4.1 mini, and GPT‑4.1 nano.
Building on the success of previous generations, these models deliver groundbreaking performance upgrades in coding, instruction following, and long-context comprehension.
They feature support for up to 1 million tokens and an updated knowledge cutoff of June 2024, all while being more cost-effective and efficient. Below, we'll explore the key upgrades and features that set GPT-4.1 apart.
Performance Across Key Benchmarks
Coding Advancements
GPT‑4.1 shines with a substantial leap in coding tasks compared to its predecessors.
- On SWE-bench Verified, a benchmark for real-world software engineering tasks, GPT‑4.1 scores 54.6%, an improvement of 21.4% over GPT‑4o and 26.6% over GPT‑4.5.
- It demonstrates improvements in solving frontend coding challenges, performing reliable diff formatting, and producing usable, test-ready code.
- Developers see fewer extraneous edits and more consistent tool usage, ensuring streamlined workflows for complex engineering tasks.
Instruction Following
Models in the GPT‑4.1 family offer significant improvements in reliability when following instructions.
- On Scale’s MultiChallenge benchmark, which measures instruction-following capabilities, GPT‑4.1 achieves a score of 38.3%, reflecting a 10.5% absolute increase over GPT‑4o.
- This improvement allows developers to build systems that can follow nuanced, multi-step instructions with greater autonomy and accuracy.
Long-Context Comprehension
With its ability to handle up to 1 million tokens, GPT‑4.1 sets a new standard for long-context comprehension.
- On Video-MME, a benchmark for multimodal long-context understanding, it scores 72.0% on the long, no-subtitles category—a state-of-the-art result with a 6.7% improvement over GPT‑4o.
- These gains make it ideal for parsing complex datasets, extracting insights, and driving high-value applications requiring deep context comprehension.
GPT‑4.1 Mini and Nano Models
GPT‑4.1 Mini
This smaller model punches above its weight, outperforming GPT‑4o while drastically reducing latency and costs.
- Matches or exceeds GPT‑4o in intelligence benchmarks.
- Provides 83% cost reductions and reduces latency by nearly half, making it a highly efficient option for developers handling mid-complexity tasks.
GPT‑4.1 Nano
The fastest and most cost-effective model in the family, GPT‑4.1 nano excels in low-latency applications.
- Features a 1 million token context window while maintaining excellent performance across tasks like classification and autocompletion.
- Benchmarks include 80.1% on MMLU, 50.3% on GPQA, and 9.8% on Aider Polyglot Coding, beating GPT‑4o mini in key metrics.
- Ideal for applications requiring real-time interaction and high responsiveness.
Advancing Real-World Applications
The improvements in coding reliability, instruction following, and long-context comprehension unlock new possibilities, particularly for building agentic systems.
- Developers can leverage GPT‑4.1 alongside APIs like the Responses API to create more capable and autonomous agents, handling tasks like software engineering, customer service, and document analysis.
- These models optimize real-world utility, providing unparalleled performance even under cost and latency constraints.
Transition and Future Directions
As GPT‑4.1 sets a new benchmark, we are sunsetting GPT‑4.5 Preview in the API by July 14, 2025, giving developers time to transition to the improved performance of GPT‑4.1.
Lessons from GPT‑4.5 have shaped the development of this new family of models, ensuring key qualities like creativity, nuance, and reliability remain integral to these APIs.
By upgrading to GPT‑4.1, developers can drive innovation with AI models designed to excel across the board, whether it's coding, instruction following, or long-context tasks.
How to Use GPT-4.1 Model for Free?
Windsurf is offering free access to the new GPT-4.1 model exclusively through their IDE for a limited time.
From April 14th to April 21st, users can explore the full potential of GPT-4.1 with no limitations. Take advantage of this opportunity to enhance your coding projects effortlessly. To get started, download Windsurf and use their platform for seamless integration with GPT-4.1.
Key Features of the Free GPT-4.1 Access:
- No usage limits during the free access period.
- Supports coding tasks, long-context analysis, and instruction-based activities.
- Available exclusively on Windsurf's IDE.
- New intuitive interface for an enhanced experience.
- Effortless integration to streamline your development process.
Don't miss this chance to try out GPT-4.1 for free and elevate your AI-driven development!
Example Projects Using GPT-4.1 Model
Project #1 - Guess Movie Name
The "Guess Movie Name" project is a fun and interactive game that challenges players to identify popular movies based on emoji clues.
Designed with an engaging user interface, this project makes use of React components and integrates creative animations for enhanced user experience.
Players must guess the correct movie title and can track their score while progressing through a list of emoji-based movie riddles. Below is the placeholder for the code implementation of the project.
Key Features of the Project:
- Interactive Gameplay: Players get multiple chances to guess the movie based on emoji hints.
- Responsive Design: A visually appealing and mobile-friendly interface ensures smooth gameplay across devices.
- Score Tracking: A dynamic score counter keeps players engaged and motivated to guess correctly.
- Feedback System: Provides immediate feedback with animations indicating whether the guess is correct or incorrect.
- Retry Mechanism: Players have three attempts per movie, adding an extra layer of challenge.
- Dynamic Movie List: A rotating set of emoji-based riddles ensures replayability and keeps the game fresh.
This project is a great way to explore React fundamentals while creating an enjoyable and interactive user experience.
Project #2 - Google Place ID Finder
The Google Place ID Finder is a practical tool designed to help users identify unique Place IDs and retrieve important details for specific locations. This application leverages the Google Maps JavaScript API to offer a seamless and interactive map-based experience.
Features of the App:
- Location Search: Users can enter a location in the search bar to quickly find and select specific places.
- Autocomplete Widget: The app integrates a Place Autocomplete widget, providing suggestions and speeding up the search process.
- Detailed Place Information: Displays key details such as the Place ID, name, and formatted address for the selected location.
- Interactive Map: Includes a dynamic Google Map interface that centers and zooms on the selected place for better visualization.
- Customizable Markers: Markers on the map indicate exact locations and can display an info window with the Place ID and other details.
- Responsive Input Field: A well-designed input field that enhances usability with focus styling and clear visibility.
- Info Window Integration: An info window pops up to present detailed information about the chosen location, enhancing user interaction.
- Automatic Map Adjustments: Automatically adjusts the map's view to include the bounds of the selected location or its viewport.
This app demonstrates the effective use of the Google Maps API, emphasizing flexibility, precision, and user-friendly features for location-based tasks.
Final Thoughts!
The release of GPT-4.1 marks a new era in AI with advanced models like GPT‑4.1, GPT‑4.1 Mini, and GPT‑4.1 Nano delivering groundbreaking improvements in coding, instruction following, and long-context comprehension.
With support for up to 1 million tokens and enhanced cost efficiency, these models open up exciting possibilities for developers. Whether you're tackling complex tasks or optimizing real-time applications, GPT-4.1 is built to enhance innovation.
Don’t miss the chance to explore its potential with free access through Windsurf's IDE—get started today!
