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How to Get Started with OpenAI o1: A Step-by-Step Guide

  • June 12, 2025
    Updated
how-to-get-started-with-openai-o1-a-step-by-step-guide

OpenAI has officially launched its much-anticipated AI model, o1, previously rumored as “Project Strawberry.” Available to ChatGPT Plus and Teams subscribers, the model is designed to tackle complex tasks with enhanced reasoning.

In this guide, I’ll show you how to get started with OpenAI o1 and explore its many applications, including coding, math, and more.

Now, let’s see why it generates so much buzz and how you can use it effectively.


How to Get Started with OpenAI o1 (Step-by-Step Guide)

OpenAI ChatGPT o1 offers an advanced AI model for solving complex coding, math, and reasoning tasks. Follow these simple steps to get started:

  1. How to Access and Get Started with GPT o1:
  2. How Can You Use OpenAI o1 for Coding?
  3. How Can OpenAI o1 Help Solve Math Problems?
  4. How Can You Write Puzzles with OpenAI o1?
  5. How Can You Use o1 OpenAI for Reasoning Tasks?

1. How to Access and Get Started with GPT o1:

  • Step 1: Visit OpenAI’s website and sign up for an account. If you already have an account, log in.
  • Step 2: Upgrade to ChatGPT Plus or Teams to gain access to o1-preview or o1-mini in the model selector.

chatgpt-o1-mini-model-selection-in-openai-interface

  • Step 3: If you need API access, request an API key to integrate the model into your applications.
  • Step 4: Begin by entering structured queries and testing with simple tasks to explore the model’s abilities.
  • Step 5: Once you’re comfortable, try using GPT o1 for more advanced challenges like coding or solving math problems.

2. How Can You Use OpenAI o1 for Coding?

OpenAI o1’s chain-of-thought reasoning simplifies complex programming challenges by breaking them down step by step.

Step-by-Step Guide:

  • Step 1: Define your coding task (e.g., “Write a Python function to sort a list of numbers”).
  • Step 2: Input the problem into OpenAI o1 using clear, structured prompts.
  • Step 3: Review the response and refine your code as needed.

Example Use Cases: OpenAI o1 can help with tasks like bug fixing, optimizing algorithms, or writing complex code from scratch. For instance, OpenAI recently demonstrated how o1 can code a video game from a simple prompt.

3. How Can OpenAI ChatGPT o1 Help Solve Math Problems?

OpenAI o1 is highly effective at solving complex mathematical problems, offering clear and accurate steps.

Step-by-Step Guide:

  • Step 1: Input a clear mathematical problem (e.g., “Solve for x in the equation 3x² + 5x – 2 = 0”).
  • Step 2: Analyze the response to ensure accuracy by following the steps provided by OpenAI o1.
  • Step 3: If the solution is complex, ask OpenAI o1 to break it down into simpler steps.

openai-chatgpt-o1-solving-quadratic-equation-with-math-prompt

Example Use Cases: Use OpenAI o1 for solving equations, performing integrals, or handling complex calculus problems

4. How Can You Write Puzzles with OpenAI o1?

OpenAI o1 is great for generating logic puzzles, crosswords, or riddles by using its advanced reasoning abilities.

Step-by-Step Guide:

  • Step 1: Define the type of puzzle you want to create (e.g., “Create a logic puzzle where three people each tell a different story”).
  • Step 2: Provide specific rules and parameters for the puzzle.
  • Step 3: Refine the generated puzzle for clarity or adjust the complexity as needed.

chatgpt-o1-mini-creating-logic-puzzle-with-three-people-and-different-stories

Example Use Cases: OpenAI o1 can help generate riddles, Sudoku puzzles, or lateral thinking challenges

5. How Can You Use o1 OpenAI for Reasoning Tasks?

OpenAI o1 excels in solving complex reasoning tasks by providing step-by-step solutions. With GPT o1’s PhD-Level Insights, it approaches problems with advanced reasoning that mirrors the thinking process of a human expert.”

Step-by-Step Guide:

  • Step 1: Define a reasoning problem (e.g., “Which of the following statements is true based on these conditions?”).

defining-reasoning-problem-with-chatgpt-o1-mini-example-apples-fruits

final-determination-and-answer-for-reasoning-problem-in-chatgpt-o1-mini

  • Step 2: Ask OpenAI o1 to walk through the reasoning process step by step.
  • Step 3: Request clarification or corrections if the explanation isn’t clear.

Example Use Cases: Solve logic puzzles, deduce outcomes based on certain conditions, or break down philosophical problems using OpenAI o1’s reasoning abilities

For a detailed breakdown of OpenAI’s o1-preview and o1-mini models, check out our comprehensive blog on what Developers need to know about OpenAI’s o1-preview and o1-mini models.


How Has OpenAI o1 Improved Accuracy for Quirky Tasks?

OpenAI o1 resolves errors found in earlier models, such as the infamous “strawberry r-counting” problem. Previously, models like GPT-4 often returned incorrect counts due to how they processed text.

Ai trying to gaslight me about the word strawberry.
by u/Slovw3 inmildlyinfuriating


For example, when asked how many times the letter “r” appears in “strawberry,” earlier models typically returned the wrong answer (2 instead of 3). OpenAI o1, with its enhanced reasoning, now provides the correct answer—3.

chatgpt-o1-mini-correctly-counting-letter-r-in-strawberry

This fix showcases OpenAI o1’s improved accuracy, even in small, tricky tasks like counting characters.

Getting started with OpenAI o1 opens the door to advanced AI reasoning. A key innovation behind this model is the Strawberry chain of thought, which enables more intuitive problem-solving.


How is Open AI o1 Different from GPT40?

Here’s how OpenAI o1, o1 Preview, and GPT-4o perform across various tasks, alongside human experts for comparison.

comparison-of-openai-o1-gpt4o-in-math-and-coding-competitions-and-science-questions

Task GPT-4o o1 Preview o1 Expert Human
Math Competition (AIME 2024) Performs poorly Does okay Performs very well N/A
Coding Competition (CodeForces) Performs poorly Performs decently Performs extremely well N/A
PhD-Level Science Questions Performs moderately Performs very well Performs very well Performs well

Real-world Example:

If you ask GPT 4o, “If I have 10 books and I read 2, how many do I have left?” It would say 8, but OpenAI’s o1 model ( released yesterday) goes deeper: “You still have 10 books. Reading doesn’t remove them, but you now have 8 unread ones.”

As we’ve seen in the table and example above, previous models like GPT-4o handled such scenarios differently. For more details on earlier performance, explore my ChatGPT Review.


How to Prompt the New Open AI o1 Model?

The new OpenAI model simplifies how we interact with AI, making prompt engineering nearly obsolete. Here’s how to get the best results with straightforward writing prompts for ChatGPT:

  • Keep prompts simple and direct – clear, brief instructions work best.
  • Avoid step-by-step prompts – the model handles reasoning on its own.
  • Use delimiters for clarity – like triple quotes or tags to separate sections.
  • Limit extra context – only include the most relevant info to avoid overwhelming the model.
  • No extensive prompt engineering is needed – simple inputs deliver the best results.

How Much Does OpenAI o1 Cost?

OpenAI o1 is available through several pricing tiers, with different options depending on your access level and use case.

OpenAI o1 Pricing:

Model Pricing for Input Tokens Pricing for Output Tokens
o1-mini $3.00 per 1M input tokens $12.00 per 1M output tokens
o1-preview $15.00 per 1M input tokens $60.00 per 1M output tokens

OpenAI o1 Usage Limits on ChatGPT and the API

For ChatGPT Plus and Team accounts, you get 30 messages per week for o1-preview and 50 messages per week for o1-mini. Once the limit is reached, the model becomes unavailable until your weekly reset, which occurs seven days after your first message. Usage limits may fluctuate during the preview period but are expected to increase over time.

Comment
byu/CH1997H from discussion
inOpenAI


FAQs

OpenAI o1 is a new AI model designed to handle complex reasoning tasks like coding and problem-solving. It offers more thoughtful responses compared to GPT-4. It’s available through ChatGPT Plus, Teams, and API access.

OpenAI o1 focuses on deeper reasoning and handles complex, multi-step tasks better, while GPT-4o is faster but less thorough.

No, OpenAI o1 is currently only available to ChatGPT Plus and Teams users, as well as through API Tier 5 access.

OpenAI o1 excels in breaking down complex coding problems and optimizing algorithms through its chain-of-thought reasoning.

OpenAI o1 is ideal for analytical tasks, solving math problems, writing code, and tackling multi-step reasoning challenges.


Explore More How-to Guides

Looking for more ways to enhance your creativity with AI? Check out other how-to guides for practical tips and fresh ideas!


Conclusion

OpenAI o1 is a highly advanced tool designed to handle complex tasks like coding, math, and reasoning with improved accuracy. Its advanced reasoning capabilities set it apart, making it ideal for professionals looking to solve intricate problems more efficiently.

To make the most of this model, follow the steps in this guide on how to get started with OpenAI o1. Whether you’re a developer, student, or simply curious about AI. OpenAI o1 offers a valuable resource for tackling both technical and creative challenges.

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Midhat Tilawat is endlessly curious about how AI is changing the way we live, work, and think. She loves breaking down big, futuristic ideas into stories that actually make sense—and maybe even spark a little wonder. Outside of the AI world, she’s usually vibing to indie playlists, bingeing sci-fi shows, or scribbling half-finished poems in the margins of her notebook.

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