[TobiWestside]

I'm confused - the post says "o3 does not have access to a coding tool".

However, OpenAI mentiones a Python tool multiple times in the system card [1], e.g.: "OpenAI o3 and OpenAI o4-mini combine state-of-the-art reasoning with full tool capabilities—web browsing, Python, [...]"

"The models use tools in their chains of thought to augment their capabilities; for example, cropping or transforming images, searching the web, or using Python to analyze data during their thought process."

I interpreted this to mean o3 does have access to a tool that enables it to run code. Is my understanding wrong?

[1] https://openai.com/index/o3-o4-mini-system-card/

[ddjohnson]

One of the blog post authors here! We evaluated o3 through the API, where the model does not have access to any specific built-in tools (although it does have the capability to use tools, and allows you to provide your own tools). This is different than when using o3 through the ChatGPT UI, where it does have a built-in tool to run code.

(Interestingly, even in the ChatGPT UI the o3 model will sometimes state that it ran code on its personal MacBook Pro M2! https://x.com/TransluceAI/status/1912617941725847841)

[TobiWestside]

I see, thanks for the clarification!

[jlaternman]

Just throwing this out there. Is it possible that in some way, it does have a MacBook Pro M2? For example, that the tools the ChatGPT UI have are exposed to it through access to one, which is can run whatever tools it wants through? That might actually be quite a sensible way to expose a “tools” UI to an LLM. If what it’s saying is technically accurate on the “flagship product” (ChatGPT), it could be the API version is simply confused about its differences (no access to tools).