# AI model choices 2026-01

DevFeed: [AI model choices 2026-01](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/ai-model-choices-2026-01-25215.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://kau.sh/blog/ai-model-choices/>)

Author: Kaushik Gopal

Published: 2026-01-13T19:39:48Z

Content type: opinion

Language: en

Sources: [Kaushik Gopal's Site](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/kaushik-gopal-s-site.md>)

Topics: [Artificial Intelligence](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/ai.md>), [coding](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/coding.md>), [Automation](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/automation.md>)

Tags: [2026](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/2026.md>), [ai](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ai.md>), [automation](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/automation.md>), [coding](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/coding.md>), [generation](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/generation.md>), [image](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/image.md>), [model](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/model.md>), [models](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/models.md>), [transcription](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/transcription.md>), [voice](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/voice.md>), [writing](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/writing.md>)

## AI overview

The author shares a current set of preferred AI models for different tasks, including planning and writing, coding and tool calling, learning, quick questions, image generation, and voice transcription.

## Source excerpt

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