Your 5 Min AI Training - The Top AI Models
Which one is YOUR favorite?
Word of the Day: TOKEN
A token is a tiny piece of text that an AI model reads or writes when processing language.
Think of it this way: a token is a chunk of text, usually a few letters or part of a word, that the AI uses to think.
Examples:
• “Marketing” might be split into: Mar + ket + ing
• “Call the customer” may become: Call, the, cus, tom, er
AI doesn’t see full words the way we do. It sees tokens, like puzzle pieces.
Why this matters:
• AI costs money per token. Every token you send in, and every token the AI replies with, costs something.
• Bigger messages use more tokens. Long prompts and long answers = more cost.
• Stronger models use tokens faster. High-end models “burn” tokens at a higher price because they’re smarter.
Key Takeaway: Tokens = how AI models measure work. More tokens = more cost.
Skill of the Day: Test the Models
Test each model below with the SAME specific task and see which one performs best. Here are a few tasks to try:
Draft an email to a potential new client explaining my services as listed here (include website link)
Create a compelling social media image advertising this product (include link)
Review the data in the attached spreadsheet (attach a spreadsheet) and give me insights
Keep testing different models regularly, they’re constantly improving. If a model doesn’t perform for you today, try it again in a month. Remember: this software is the worst it will ever be right now. It only gets better from here.
1. ChatGPT (OpenAI) — GPT-5.1
Best for: General business tasks, writing, research, customer service, idea generation. Recently, it’s become excellent at generating images with overlay text.
Cost: Free tier available with limits. ChatGPT Plus is $20/month for higher usage and GPT-5 access. Pro is $200/month for power users who need unlimited access.
Bottom line: The “default” choice for most users. Well-rounded and easy to use.
Link: https://chatgpt.com/
2. Claude (Anthropic) — Claude Opus 4.5
Best for: Polished writing, analysis, deep research, long documents, coding.
Cost: Free tier with limited usage. Claude Pro is $20/month (or $17/month with annual billing). Max plans at $100-$200/month for power users.
Bottom line: Exceptional writing quality. Excellent for anyone who writes a lot or needs detailed analysis.
Link: https://claude.ai/
3. Gemini (Google) — Gemini 3 Pro
Best for: Google power users. Gemini can summarize your emails, help you write in Google Docs, analyze your Sheets, and search through your Google Drive, all without leaving the apps you already use. It’s also strong at image generation, image editing and short video creation.
Cost: Free unlimited access to the basic Gemini model for text conversations. Gemini Advanced (AI Pro) is $20/month and includes 2TB storage plus Google Workspace AI features.
Bottom line: If you live in Google’s ecosystem, this is your go-to model.
Link: https://gemini.google.com/app
4. Grok (xAI / Elon Musk) — Grok 4
Best for: Real-time information, social media trends, “edgy” creative tasks.
Special feature: Direct access to real-time X (Twitter) data. Can analyze trending topics and conversations as they happen.
Cost: Limited free access for all X users. X Premium ($8/month) gets more access. X Premium+ ($40/month) or SuperGrok ($30/month) for full features.
Bottom line: Perfect for social media marketers and anyone who needs real-time trend analysis.
5. Qwen (Alibaba)
Best for: Developers and businesses wanting low-cost or private AI solutions.
Special note: Qwen3-VL can scan 2-hour videos and pinpoint nearly every detail with 99.5% accuracy. Impressive for video analysis tasks.
Cost: Free to use, but requires technical setup. Very low cost per token if self-hosted.
Bottom line: Great for tech-savvy businesses doing high-volume automation at low cost.
Link: https://qwen.ai/
Quick Recommendation: Use GPT-5.1 or Claude Opus 4.5 for your main work. Use Gemini for anything tied to Google Workspace. Use Grok for social media and real-time info. Use open-source models for cost-sensitive automation.
In the News
Every Company Will Need an AI Specialist by 2026
According to a new article from Entrepreneur, AI specialists will soon be as essential as your CFO. An AI specialist connects business problems to AI solutions, identifying where automation adds value, wiring it safely to your data, and helping your team use it every day.
Why it matters: Companies that delay hiring someone to manage AI strategically will fall behind in productivity AND face the risks that come with ungoverned AI use.
Read more: Entrepreneur Article
You Can Now Get a Master’s Degree in AI for Under $5,000
Udacity (now part of Accenture) and Woolf have launched a fully accredited Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence. The degree is recognized in 60+ countries and can be completed for as little as $3,500, roughly 90% cheaper than traditional programs.
For business owners: Maybe this is your next hire. For business leaders: Maybe this is your next degree.
Learn more: Udacity AI Master’s Program
Qwen3-VL Can Scan 2-Hour Videos with 99.5% Accuracy
Alibaba’s new Qwen3-VL model can process two-hour videos within a 256,000-token context window. In “needle-in-a-haystack” tests, the model located individual frames in 30-minute videos with 100% accuracy and maintained 99.5% accuracy even in two-hour videos.
What this means: Video analysis is becoming incredibly powerful. Imagine being able to search through hours of meeting recordings, training videos, or security footage instantly.
Black Friday Sets Online Spending Record: $11.8 Billion
According to Adobe Analytics, U.S. consumers spent a record $11.8 billion online on Black Friday 2025, up 9.1% from last year. Mobile shopping officially surpassed desktop for the first time, accounting for 52% of all online purchases.
The AI angle: Traffic referrals from AI sources (including large language models) skyrocketed 805% year-over-year. AI chatbots helped consumers compare prices and find deals. As one analyst put it: “AI is the ultimate purchase accelerator.”
For business owners: If you’re not using AI in your sales and customer service, you’re leaving money on the table.
Coming Tomorrow: What if your business kept running while you weren’t working? AI Automations 101—what they are and how to set one up.
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