2026 AI MODEL INDEX · OFFICIAL SOURCES

Choose the task before you choose the model

Need long-horizon reasoning or code, an image you can revise, video with sound, or a real-time voice agent? The index groups current models by job, then shows the positioning, release stage, and primary source you need to narrow the shortlist.

Compare models by task Find a practical guide

models indexed: 12
providers covered: 7
local editions: 6

REASONING · CODE · AGENTS

General models: compare how they work, not just who made them

These six models emphasize different things: deep reasoning, sustained autonomy, speed and cost, structured output, or work across tools. Narrow by job, then use the primary source to check API, price, and limits.

Official sources reviewed 6 August 2026

OpenAI

GPT-5.6 Sol

Flagship

Built for complex professional work, long context, and tool-rich execution; shortlist it for deep reasoning, coding, and end-to-end delivery.

Open official source

Anthropic

Claude Fable 5

Latest

A fit for long-horizon software engineering, knowledge work, vision, and research that benefits from sustained autonomous execution.

Open official source

Google

Gemini 3.6 Flash

Latest

Balances speed, intelligence, and cost for code, multimodal understanding, and multi-step agent workflows.

Open official source

xAI

Grok 4.20

Flagship

High-performance reasoning with image input, structured output, and tool calling for agents that need machine-usable results.

Open official source

DeepSeek

DeepSeek V4 Flash

Public beta

A public-beta agent and coding API with native Responses API support; evaluate it first for compatibility and workflow behavior.

Open official source

ByteDance

Seed2.1 Pro

Pro

Spans office work, general agents, end-to-end coding, and multimodal understanding across long, multi-tool workflows.

Open official source

IMAGE · VIDEO · REAL-TIME VOICE

Creative and interactive models: choose by the output you need

For images, separate generation from revision. For video, check duration, sound, and reference control. For voice, distinguish a live agent from expressive speech synthesis.

Generate once or keep revising

Compare visual quality, text, references, resolution, and local edits.

OpenAICurrentGPT Image 2Optimized for fast, high-quality generation and precise editing, with flexible sizes and high-fidelity image inputs.GoogleCurrentNano Banana 2Balances text, references, and resolutions up to 4K for general image work where quality, cost, and latency all matter.

Clips, sound, and shot control

Compare duration, synchronized sound, references, camera control, and editing.

GooglePreviewGemini Omni FlashA preview model for conversational video generation and editing from text, image, or video input, focused on short clips.ByteDanceLatestSeedance 2.5Joint audio-video generation for stories up to 30 seconds, with precise reference control, camera direction, and editing.

Live agent or expressive speech

Compare low-latency dialogue, reasoning and tools with dubbing and multi-speaker delivery.

OpenAICurrentGPT-Realtime-2.1Speech-to-speech sessions with configurable reasoning and tools, plus improved handling of noise, silence, and interruptions.ElevenLabsFlagshipEleven v3Best suited to expressive, multilingual speech and natural multi-speaker dialogue rather than a real-time tool-using agent.

From choice to execution

Turn a model choice into a reproducible result

When the next job is cost comparison, API integration, a creative workflow, or debugging, the guide library turns one concrete problem into steps you can run and verify.

Start by narrowing the model shortlist

The index already groups general, image, video, and voice models by job. Deeper guides to pricing, APIs, workflows, and failures will be added to the library.

Browse the guide library