AI CTRL Secure Chat offers multiple AI models, each with different strengths and capabilities. Understanding when to use which model will help you get better results for different types of work. You can set your preferred default model in the settings, but you can always switch models for specific conversations based on your needs.
Note: AI CTRL Admins can enable and disable specific models in each deployment. Coordinate with your administrator if you need access to a specific model. Expedient regularly curates the list of models and adds to it as new models become available and pass our security requirements.
OpenAI Models
OpenAI GPT-5
OpenAI's most powerful model representing a major leap in reasoning, coding, and problem-solving capability.
Best for: mission-critical work, highest-accuracy research, cutting-edge automation, complex strategic analysis
OpenAI GPT-5.1
A refined version of GPT-5 with incremental improvements in accuracy and reasoning benchmarks.
Best for: users needing absolute cutting-edge performance beyond standard GPT-5
OpenAI GPT-5 Mini
A smaller GPT-5 variant that preserves much of the advanced reasoning at lower cost for broader accessibility.
Best for: organizations wanting GPT-5 intelligence without full flagship pricing
OpenAI GPT-5 Nano
An ultra-efficient version designed for extremely fast responses and minimal costs, with reduced but still useful capability.
Best for: simple automation, embedded applications, client-side tasks, lightweight assistants
OpenAI GPT-4.1
An enhanced version of GPT-4 with better coding skills and the ability to work with very long documents without losing context.
Best for: analyzing lengthy contracts or reports, software development, precise instruction following
OpenAI GPT-4o
A versatile model that seamlessly works with text, images, and audio—designed for interactive, real-world applications.
Best for: chatbots, multimodal apps, voice assistants, real-time interactions
OpenAI GPT-4o Mini
A compact version that keeps much of GPT-4o's capability while responding faster and costing significantly less.
Best for: budget-friendly chat, quick interactions, high-traffic applications
OpenAI o3
A model specifically engineered for deep thinking and step-by-step reasoning through complex problems—takes more time but produces thorough answers.
Best for: academic research, mathematical proofs, scientific analysis, complex multi-step reasoning
OpenAI o4 Mini
A faster, more affordable reasoning model that maintains careful step-by-step thinking at lower cost.
Best for: cost-conscious research, logical problem-solving, technical workflows on a budget
OpenAI DALL-E 3
Specialized for creating images from text descriptions. This model focuses entirely on image generation and visual content creation.
Best for: Creating images, visual content, illustrations, concept visualization
Anthropic Models
Anthropic Claude 3 Haiku
The fastest and most affordable Claude model, designed for simple conversations and quick tasks where speed matters more than depth.
Best for: rapid responses, basic chat, high-volume applications, simple content drafting
Anthropic Claude 3.7 Sonnet
A balanced model that handles most everyday tasks well without premium pricing—solid reasoning and writing capability at reasonable cost.
Best for: daily work tasks, content creation, customer support, general business writing
Anthropic Claude Sonnet 4
A stronger version of Sonnet with notably improved coding ability and logical reasoning compared to the 3.7 generation.
Best for: software development, detailed analysis, technical writing, complex instructions
Anthropic Claude Sonnet 4.5
The most refined Sonnet model with enhanced accuracy and the ability to handle longer, more autonomous workflows without losing track.
Best for: multi-step projects, advanced coding, sustained research tasks, detailed technical documentation
Google Models
Google Gemini 2.0 Flash
A quick, responsive model built for everyday business tasks with the ability to understand both text and images.
Best for: email drafting, document summaries, quick questions, general productivity
Google Gemini 2.0 Flash Lite
A stripped-down version optimized for cost and speed, trading some intelligence for faster responses and lower bills.
Best for: simple queries, high-volume use cases, budget-conscious applications
Google Gemini 2.5 Flash
An upgraded version with better problem-solving and coding skills while maintaining quick response times.
Best for: coding assistance, technical questions, faster workflows needing moderate intelligence
Google Gemini 2.5 Pro
A more capable model that handles complex reasoning and understands images, video, and text together more effectively.
Best for: engineering support, detailed analysis, working with multiple file types simultaneously
Google Gemini 3.0 Pro
Google's most advanced model with exceptional reasoning ability and massive context memory—can process entire books worth of information at once.
Best for: comprehensive research, analyzing lengthy documents, sophisticated problem-solving, advanced automation
Specialty & Web Search Models
Perplexity Sonar
Built for quickly summarizing current news and finding answers from recent web content—refreshed with up-to-date information.
Best for: news summaries, market monitoring, quick web research, current events
Perplexity Sonar Pro
A more thorough version with deeper analysis capability for business intelligence and comprehensive literature reviews.
Best for: market research, competitive analysis, industry trend reports, detailed reviews
Perplexity Sonar Reasoning (Deepseek R1)
Combines web search with deeper logical thinking for technical troubleshooting and complex documentation lookup.
Best for: debugging technical issues, finding solutions in documentation, complex technical research
Perplexity Sonar Reasoning Pro (Deepseek R1)
The most rigorous version for high-stakes research requiring precision and comprehensive source verification.
Best for: patent searches, regulatory compliance research, legal analysis, technical due diligence
Deep Research: OpenAI o3
A research-focused configuration that conducts exhaustive literature reviews and systematic fact verification.
Best for: academic papers, comprehensive literature synthesis, reproducible research
Deep Research: OpenAI o4-mini
A faster research assistant that maintains careful reasoning while providing quicker exploratory results.
Best for: preliminary research, iterative investigation, prototype analysis
Deep Research: Perplexity Sonar
Configured for thorough investigation with emphasis on finding and citing reliable sources.
Best for: fact-checking, evidence-based reports, due diligence research
HIPAA: OpenAI GPT-4o
A privacy-compliant version specifically configured for healthcare environments handling protected medical information.
Best for: medical documentation, clinical note summaries, HIPAA-compliant healthcare workflows
Tips for Model Selection
Start with GPT-5 Mini for most tasks - it's well-balanced and handles most business needs effectively
Switch to reasoning models when you have complex problems that need step-by-step thinking
Use web access models when you need current information or real-time data
Try different vendors (OpenAI, Google, Anthropic) to get different perspectives on the same problem
Consider the specialized models for specific use cases like image creation or HIPAA compliance
Remember, you can always change models mid-conversation by using the model selector at the top of your chat interface.
Advanced Model Comparison Techniques
AI CTRL Secure Chat allows you to add multiple models to a single conversation, giving you side-by-side responses from different AI systems. This powerful feature helps you get better results by comparing different approaches, perspectives, and capabilities.
To add a second model to your conversation locate the current model selected in the upper left corner of the chat window and select the plus sign after the model’s name. Select a new model from the drop down that appears below the current model. Select the minus button after the model name to remove a model from comparison.
When to Use Model Comparison
Validate and enhance quality. Different models approach problems uniquely; comparing responses reveals blind spots, validates complex analysis, and helps you identify the strongest solution for critical work.
Match tools to tasks. Testing models side-by-side shows which capabilities fit your specific needs, letting you choose the right tool instead of guessing.
Combine complementary strengths. Use one model's analytical depth with another's creative output, or merge detailed reasoning with clear communication to get better results than any single model provides.