Why Every AI Company Just Released a Reasoning Model
What reasoning models are, why companies are racing to build them, and how you're already using them.
If you've been keeping up with AI, you've probably noticed this:
The top AI companies keep releasing reasoning models.
In the last month Google, OpenAI, Anthropic and xAI all dropped them.
So, why is everyone focused on reasoning?
And what does it mean for you?
What's a Reasoning Model?
A classic chat model answers instantly.
You ask a question, then get a response back in seconds.
Classic models are like someone who responds out loud in real-time.
They work with the knowledge they have and you hear them process their thoughts as they go.
Sometimes they stick the landing. Other times, they talk in a messy circle.
Reasoning models pause first.
They're what happens if that person takes a moment before they respond, working through the task internally before getting back to you.
While you wait, they're breaking down tasks into steps, using tools, exploring options, and checking their work.
As you can imagine, this leads to stronger responses for complex work.
But, extra time to "think" isn't always needed for the easier stuff.
The AI Reasoning Landscape
AI companies are focused on reasoning because this is where the money is.
Instead of classic text models that regurgitate information, AI needs to reason to take on complex workflows.
The better a model reasons through messy problems, the more work it can handle in the real-world.
It's less likely to hallucinate or go off the rails.
And it can reliably operate as an AI agent, creating new efficiencies and opportunities for organizations.
Ultimately, the more each model is used, the more AI companies make money.
This is why companies are racing to build reasoning into the default AI experience.
To become the most capable and seamless at delivering results for users.
Today, companies are deploying reasoning in two ways:
- Hybrid Models: Made for the everyday user. The model decides when to use reasoning based on your question.
- Ask something simple and you're routed to a "fast" or classic model.
- Ask something complex and you're routed to a "thinking" or reasoning model.
- Advanced Reasoning Models: Made for complex tasks and agent-based work. Dedicated high-capability reasoning is the default experience; every response has "thinking" baked in.
Here's what the landscape looks like today:
| Company | Default Model | Type | Advanced Reasoning Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gemini 3 Pro | Hybrid | Deep Think Mode | |
| OpenAI | GPT-5.1 | Hybrid | GPT-5.1 Thinking (Default) |
| Anthropic | Claude 4.5 Sonnet | Hybrid | Claude 4.5 Opus |
| xAI | Grok 4.1 | Hybrid | Grok 4.1 Think Mode (Default) |
| Moonshot | Kimi K2 Thinking | Hybrid | Kimi K2 Thinking (Default) |
| DeepSeek | DeepSeek V3.2 | Reasoning-First | V3.2-Speciale |
As you can see from the chart, some companies offer additional advanced reasoning models for the most complex tasks.
Google has Deep Think Mode, Anthropic has Claude 4.5 Opus, and DeepSeek rolled out V3.2-Speciale last week.
OpenAI is also rumored to be releasing a new reasoning model this week.
For these advanced reasoning models, if they're not the mode their Hybrid model defaults to, you'll need to select them manually (and also make sure they're included in your plan).
What Reasoning Means for You
You're already using reasoning whether you select it or not.
The shift to hybrid models means it's happening in the background based on what you ask.
But there are deeper reasoning capabilities available if you need them and know where to look.
Zooming Out: Reasoning is table stakes for the AI vision everyone's been sold.
Today there's a disconnect.
AI hasn't taken over work because it takes time to integrate, and honestly, reasoning wasn't strong enough in many cases to take work away from people.
Recent focus and improvements to reasoning will change this.
That future everyone's been waiting for?
We're not there yet, but we're closer than we were a few months ago.
