GPT-5.1 (Caterpillar CKPT Tested): This NEW GPT-5 Checkpoint by OpenAI seems QUITE GOOD!

AICodeKing
5 Nov 202508:02

TLDRThe video reviews alleged GPT-5.1 checkpoints marketed under names like Firefly, Chrysalis, Cicada, and Caterpillar — reportedly the same model with different reasoning budgets. The creator focuses on Caterpillar, tested via Design Arena and LM Arena, finding mixed results: strong performance on math and riddles, decent code and CLI output, but weak results on floor plans, 3D tasks, and chess compared with Gemini 3. Overall, the model is competent but not groundbreaking—better than some smaller models yet behind top checkpoints. The presenter criticizes degrading model quality, opaque quantization and marketing tactics, and urges viewers to test it themselves and share feedback.

Takeaways

  • 😀 New alleged GPT-5.1 models have surfaced under stealth names like Firefly, Chrysalis, Cicada, and Caterpillar.
  • 🔍 The models are said to have different reasoning budgets, with Caterpillar having the highest at 256.
  • 💡 The Caterpillar model is believed to be a new checkpoint of GPT-5 or GPT-5 Mini, possibly GPT-5.1.
  • 🧪 The model is available for testing on Design Arena and LM Arena, although it's not always available on LM Arena.
  • 📊 Benchmarks for the Caterpillar model show mixed results: decent at basic tasks but struggles with advanced ones like floor planning and 3D Minecraft.
  • ♟️ While it can handle basic chess moves, it's not on par with more advanced models like Gemini 3.
  • 🦋 The model's performance on creative tasks, like generating a butterfly flying in a garden, is solid but not groundbreaking.
  • ⚙️ The Caterpillar model performs well with math questions and basic code-related tasks but struggles with complex creative generation like Blender scripts.
  • 📉 Despite being better than older models like Miniax, the Caterpillar model still falls short compared to newer models like Gemini 3 and Claude.
  • 💭 The tester is critical of GPT-5 and its derivatives, claiming that OpenAI has been faltering and not delivering as expected with new models.
  • 📉 The tester believes that OpenAI’s shift toGPT-5.1 Caterpillar review a nonprofit structure and reliance on marketing gimmicks has weakened their AI offerings, while smaller companies like Miniax and ZAI push the boundaries of innovation.

Q & A

  • What are the names of the new GPT models being tested in the video?

    -The new GPT models being tested are Firefly, Chrysalis, Cicada, and Caterpillar.

  • How do the reasoning budgets of these models differ?

    -Firefly has the lowest reasoning budget, followed by Chrysalis with 16, Cicada with 64, and Caterpillar with the highest reasoning budget of 256.

  • What is the significance of the Caterpillar model in this context?

    -The Caterpillar model is considered a checkpoint of GPT-5 or GPT-5 Mini, and it is expected to be GPT-5.1. The model was tested in this video, and the reviewer shares their experiences with it.

  • Where can users access the new GPT models like Caterpillar?

    -Users can access the models on Design Arena and LM Arena. Design Arena is more likely to have the models, but LM Arena can also have them occasionally.

  • How does the Caterpillar model perform in the benchmarks?

    -The Caterpillar model performs decently but not outstandingly. It struggles with tasks like creating useful floor plans and 3D Minecraft rendering, though it does well with math questions and riddles.

  • How does the performance of GPT-5 models compare to other modelsGPT-5.1 Caterpillar review like Gemini 3?

    -GPT-5 models, including Caterpillar, are not as powerful as Gemini 3. They are better than some models like Miniax and GLM, but not as strong in areas like chess or 3D generation.

  • Why does the reviewer express disappointment with the performance of GPT-5 models?

    -The reviewer is disappointed because GPT-5 models, including the Caterpillar model, still have performance issues that were expected to be resolved. They also mention that GPT-5's performance has degraded over time.

  • What is the role of GPT-5 in the reviewer's workflow?

    -The reviewer uses GPT-5 primarily for planning and debugging tasks. It helps with in-depth planning and security checks, but its performance in coding is not reliable enough for more complex tasks.

  • How does the reviewer feel about OpenAI's approach to model development?

    -The reviewer is critical of OpenAI's approach, suggesting that they are focusing too much on marketing gimmicks and not enough on improving the actual performance of their models.

  • What other model provider does the reviewer trust more than OpenAI?

    -The reviewer expresses more trust in Google, believing that their approach to AI development, particularly with the Gemini models, is better and more consistent than OpenAI's.

Outlines

00:00

🤖 Introduction to OpenAI'sGPT 5.1 models overview New GPT 5.1 Models

The video introduces new, allegedly OpenAI GPT 5.1 models under stealth names, similar to Google's practices. Four models—Firefly, Chrysalis, Cicada, and Caterpillar—are discussed, each with different reasoning budgets. Firefly has the lowest, while Caterpillar is the most powerful. The speaker shares their experiences mainly with the Caterpillar model, describing it as a new checkpoint of GPT 5, potentially GPT 5.1, available on Design Arena and LM Arena. Benchmarks and performance are discussed, with mixed results on tasks like floor plan generation, 3D modeling, chess, and Blender scripting. The overall impression is that while the model is better than some older ones, it falls short compared to top-tier models like Gemini 3.

05:02

📉 Performance Issues and Limitations

In this paragraph, the speaker critiques the performance of the GPT 5.1 models on various benchmarks. While some tasks are decent, such as generating math solutions and certain visual outputs, others like 3D Minecraft and chess struggles highlight significant limitations. The speaker emphasizes that the GPT 5.1 models are not on par with more advanced systems like Gemini 3, but they do perform better than earlier models such as Miniax and GLM. They also mention the apparent degradation ofGPT 5.1 models overview GPT5 models over time and discuss the challenges OpenAI faces with ongoing improvements and model updates. Despite this, GPT 5.1's performance is still adequate for some use cases.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡GPT-5.1

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💡Firefly

Firefly is one of the four models in the GPT-5.1 series, characterized by its lower reasoning budget. The video mentions that Firefly is the entry-level model compared to others like Chrysalis and Caterpillar, making it suitable for less complex tasks. Its specific capabilities are not detailed, but it provides an example of how OpenAI is segmenting its models by reasoning capacity.

💡Chrysalis

Chrysalis is another model in the GPT-5.1 series, offering a mid-tier reasoning budget of 16. The term 'Chrysalis' likely suggests a stage of growth or transformation, indicating that this model offers more processing power than Firefly but is not as advanced as Cicada or Caterpillar. It highlights the varied capabilities within the sameGPT-5.1 Caterpillar review model family.

💡Cicada

Cicada is a more powerful model in the GPT-5.1 series, with a reasoning budget of 64. This model is likely suited for more complex tasks compared to Firefly and Chrysalis, and the video mentions it as being superior in some benchmarks. Cicada serves as a middle-ground between the lower and higher-end models of the GPT-5.1 range.

💡Caterpillar

Caterpillar is the most powerful model in the GPT-5.1 series, with a reasoning budget of 256. The video focuses on testing the Caterpillar model, stating that while it performs better than GPT-5 Mini and other models like Miniax, it still lags behind the Gemini 3 checkpoints in certain tasks. Caterpillar is meant to showcase the highest processing power within the GPT-5.1 range.

💡Design Arena

Design Arena is a platform mentioned in the video where users can interact with the GPT-5.1 models. The speaker indicates that users can provide prompts to the system and receive responses from various GPT models, including Firefly, Chrysalis, Cicada, and Caterpillar. The tool seems to focus on allowing users to test AI capabilities for creative and technical tasks.

💡LM Arena

LM Arena is another platform where the GPT-5.1 models can be accessed, though the speaker notes that it is less reliable for testing these models compared to Design Arena. It suggests that while LM Arena also hosts the models, the frequency and consistency of their appearance are not guaranteed.

💡Benchmarking

Benchmarking refers to the process of testing and evaluating the performance of AI models across a series of tasks. In the video, benchmarking is used to assess how well the GPT-5.1 models perform on various challenges, such as generating floor plans, solving math problems, or producing 3D renderings. The speaker highlights that while GPT-5.1 performs decently, it still doesn't match the best models, such as Gemini 3, in certain areas.

💡Miniax

Miniax is another AI model referenced in the video. The speaker contrasts it with GPT-5 and other models, noting that while GPT-5 is good at planning and debugging, Miniax offers better results in some areas, like generating a butterfly in the video example. The comparison underscores the competition in the AI space, with smaller models sometimes outperforming larger ones in specific tasks.

💡Claude

Claude is a competing AI model mentioned in the video. The speaker compares GPT-5.1 to Claude, suggesting that while GPT-5.1 is better than some other models like GLM, it still falls short of Claude in certain areas. Claude is positioned as one of the more capable alternatives in the AI market.

Highlights

Introduction to new alleged OpenAI GPT 5.1 models under stealth names like Firefly, Chrysalis, Cicada, and Caterpillar.

The models are said to have varying reasoning budgets, with Caterpillar having the highest at 256.

The Caterpillar model has been primarily tested and found to perform well but has its limitations.

Caterpillar, likely GPT 5.1, is available on platforms like Design Arena and LM Arena for testing.

Benchmark results show that Caterpillar struggles with certain tasks like floor plans, 3D Minecraft, and some visual generation.

The Caterpillar model can handle basic tasks well, such as maths questions and riddles, but falls short in complex scenarios.

While better than some models like Miniax and GLM, Caterpillar still doesn't match the performance of Gemini 3.

GPT5, in general, is better for planning tasks but shows weaknesses in coding and vision tasks.

GPT5 Codecs used for debugging and security checks have degraded in performance, which raises concerns about upcoming models.

Concerns are raised about the declining performance of models and the potential strategic reasons behind it, such as GPU resource management.

Despite its flaws, GPT5 is still used for specific tasks like planning and debugging but is no longer as reliable as it once was.

The new nonprofit structure of OpenAI and their GPOSS model are criticized as ineffective and more focused on marketing gimmicks.

Smaller companies like Miniax and ZAI are praised for pushing boundaries with small, highly capable models.

Google’s Gemini Live mode is considered superior to OpenAI's models, with Google building a robust ecosystem around their AI tools.

Testing on agent benchmarks isn't feasible for Caterpillar, but the model still holds promise for specific applications.