Which AI model do I use?

This is a common question I get asked, but models evolve so rapidly that I never felt like I could give an answer that would stay relevant for more than a month or two.

This year, I finally feel like I have a stable set of model choices that consistently give me good results. I’m jotting it down here to share more broadly and to trace how my own choices evolve over time.

  • GPT 5.2 (High) for planning and writing, including plans
  • Opus 4.5 for anything coding, task automation, and tool calling
  • Gemini’s range of models for everything else:
    • Gemini 3 (Thinking) for learning and understanding concepts (underrated)
    • Gemini 3 (Flash) for quick fire questions
    • Nano Banana (obv) for image generation
  • NVIDIA’s Parakeet for voice transcription
- January 13, 2026