OpenAI has launched 'o3 mini,' a small AI model with advanced reasoning capabilities. 'o3 mini' is a scaled-down version of 'o3,' an upgraded version of the existing 'o1' model, boasting high reliability in physics, science, and mathematics fields. The launch comes as Chinese AI startup DeepSeek's reasoning model 'R1' is gaining significant popularity. 'R1' demonstrates superior performance in multiple tests, signaling intense competition with OpenAI. 'o3 mini' is available for free through ChatGPT and will also be offered to paying subscribers.