Start here: pick a model and check your skills

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Chapters

Each chapter starts the class video at that moment.

1. Welcome, and where the class materials live0:00
2. The Model Guide: match the model to the work0:27
3. Check the source: live leaderboards2:09
4. Intelligence vs. cost per task2:50
5. “Which model do I use?” All of them5:31
6. On the Learn page: the Model Guide and the AI Skills Diagnostic5:57
7. Free courses to fill the gaps6:52

From the class

What this module covers

JP opened on the Learn page with two tools he built for members: a Model Guide that matches models to the type of work, and a short AI Skills Diagnostic.

• Class materials, including recordings and notes, are posted on the Learn page.
• The Model Guide answers “what's the best model?” by type of work: overall intelligence, intelligence versus cost, intelligence versus speed, and business work such as spreadsheets, data analysis and documents.
• Speed matters most for live, two-way uses such as a customer-support chatbot. Cost matters most when you run a lot of work.
• When the guide's link failed live, he went to artificialanalysis.ai, the source he checks routinely. Its business-work ranking is not cost-adjusted.
• His split: Claude and ChatGPT for day-to-day work, and Gemini models when intelligence per dollar matters, such as software and tools at scale.
• On the intelligence-versus-cost-per-task chart, the models you want sit top-left: high intelligence, low cost.
• Asked which model he uses, he said he uses all of them: several assistants every day, plus a local open model (Qwen) on his laptop.
• The AI Skills Diagnostic takes about five minutes, is aimed at everyday AI use rather than engineers, and shows which skill areas you're missing.
• For a refresher, he recommends Claude Academy's free courses, which he says also apply to ChatGPT.
• Revisit your skills regularly. Work that was enough last year may not fit the tools you have now.

Try it

Put it to work

Rankings move fast. The chart on screen was as of November 3, 2026. Use the live Model Guide.

1. Open the Model Guide on the Learn page and choose the view that matches most of your work.
2. Write down the top two models in that view and whether you already have access to either.
3. Take the AI Skills Diagnostic (about five minutes) and note your two weakest areas.
4. Pick one free course that covers one of those areas, and send one piece of feedback on the diagnostic.

Most of my AI use is [type of work, e.g. spreadsheet analysis / drafting documents / customer chat]. Using current public benchmark data (for example artificialanalysis.ai), recommend two or three models that fit on quality, cost per task and speed. Give the source and date for each claim, and list anything you couldn't verify.

Check your work

You're done when

• You know which Model Guide view fits your work and which model you'll try first.
• You've finished the AI Skills Diagnostic and picked one area to improve.

Tools

Mentioned in this module

• Model Guide — On the Learn page. Choose a model by type of work.
• AI Skills Diagnostic — About five minutes. Aimed at everyday AI use.
• Artificial Analysis — Independent rankings he checks routinely.

Also on the class guide

Written before class

• Pre-class guide: get ready in 5 minutes
• Pre-class guide: ground rules

Between classes

WhatsApp and YouTube

Join the AI Practicum WhatsApp group

Hive Research Institute on YouTube