Choosing AI Model
Why Does Your AI Model Choice Matter?
When building automations in K3 Labs, the AI model you select has a direct impact on what your workflows can do - and the quality and reliability of the results. Some models are best for fast, simple tasks. Others can handle complex, multi-step operations, tool use, and troubleshooting.
Types of AI Models
Basic & Fast Models
Examples: ChatGPT 4.0, Gemini 2.0 Flash, Gemini 2.0 Flashlight, GPT-3.5
Best for: Simple, direct requests; summaries; basic data transformations
How they work: These models attempt to complete your prompt in a single step. They’ll run your task once—if there’s an issue (like an error from an API or database), they don’t retry or troubleshoot.
Limitations: Not ideal for complex logic or ambiguous instructions.
Advanced & Reasoning Models
Examples: Claude Sonnet 4.0, Gemini 2.5 Pro, GPT-4o, Claude Opus
Best for: Multi-step logic; chaining actions; using external tools; analytics; error handling
How they work: Advanced models can break tasks into steps, reason through processes, and troubleshoot as they go. If they encounter an error (e.g., a failed database query), they’ll try to fix it and re-run the action. They’re better at open-ended prompts and more robust in workflows that require connecting to external tools.
Strengths:
Handle vague or multi-part requests
Better at working with integrations (Web3 Data Fetcher, MCP, etc.)
Retry and troubleshoot when something goes wrong
K3 Free AI Access
K3 Labs provides free access to Gemini 2.0 Flash and Gemini 2.0 Flashlight models. These models are available out-of-the-box for all users—no setup required, and no API key needed. Just select Gemini (K3 Free Credits) when configuring your AI agent or workflow step.
What Does This Mean for You?
Output Quality Will Vary: Results depend on the model’s abilities. For simple automations, fast/basic models are fine. For anything complex or critical, advanced models will generally perform better.
Tool Use Depends on Model: Advanced models handle tool use, integrations, and retries better. Basic models will do exactly what you ask, one time.
Try Different Models: For basic summaries or checks, start with Gemini 2.0 Flash (free). For multi-step, critical, or error-prone workflows, upgrade to an advanced model.
Example Scenario
Scenario: You ask your AI agent to “fetch token balances, summarize those above $1,000, and notify me of any new tokens this week.”
With a basic model: The agent does one pass. If there’s a failure or ambiguity, you may get a partial or failed result.
With an advanced model: The agent checks, retries, troubleshoots, and completes each step—even if it requires multiple attempts or decisions.
Summary Table
Basic / Fast
ChatGPT 4.0, Gemini 2.0 Flash
Simple prompts
Basic
None (single shot)
Advanced / Reasoning
Claude Sonnet 4.0, Gemini 2.5 Pro, GPT-4o
Multi-step, complex tasks
Full
Retries, troubleshooting
Tip: For most users, starting with Gemini 2.0 Flash (free) is the easiest way to try out AI automations. If your workflow is complex or critical, upgrade to a more advanced model for better performance and reliability.
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