Choosing an AI Model
The AI model is the brain of your agent. It determines how well the agent understands context, reasons through complex questions, and generates natural responses. Votel supports models from OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic — each with different strengths.
Available Models
Votel integrates with a wide range of models across three providers:
OpenAI
| Model | Speed | Intelligence | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| GPT-4.1 Mini | Very fast | Good | Recommended — best balance of speed, intelligence, and cost for most agents |
| GPT-4.1 Nano | Fastest | Basic | Recommended — ultra-low latency for simple, high-volume conversations |
| GPT-4.1 | Fast | Strong | Full-size 4.1 for more complex reasoning |
| GPT-4o | Fast | Strong | Balanced option with good emotional understanding |
| GPT-4o Mini | Very fast | Good | Lightweight alternative to 4o |
| GPT-5 | Moderate | Strongest | Most advanced OpenAI model |
| GPT-5 Mini | Fast | Very strong | Lighter version of GPT-5 |
| GPT-5 Nano | Very fast | Strong | Fast variant of GPT-5 |
| GPT-5.1 | Moderate | Strongest | Latest generation |
| GPT-5.2 | Moderate | Strongest | Latest generation |
Google Gemini
| Model | Speed | Intelligence | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gemini 2.5 Flash | Very fast | Good | Fast and cost-effective |
| Gemini 2.5 Flash Lite | Fastest | Basic | Ultra-lightweight option |
| Gemini 2.5 Pro | Moderate | Very strong | Advanced reasoning |
| Gemini 3 Flash | Very fast | Good | Latest generation fast model |
| Gemini 3 Pro | Moderate | Very strong | Latest generation pro model |
| Gemini 3.1 Pro | Moderate | Strongest | Newest Gemini model |
| Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite | Very fast | Good | Newest lightweight model |
Anthropic Claude
| Model | Speed | Intelligence | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claude 3.5 Sonnet | Fast | Strong | Reliable mid-tier model |
| Claude 3 | Moderate | Good | Earlier generation |
| Claude Sonnet 4 | Fast | Very strong | Strong all-around model |
| Claude Sonnet 4.5 | Fast | Very strong | Enhanced Sonnet |
| Claude Sonnet 4.6 | Fast | Strongest | Latest Sonnet |
| Claude Opus 4.5 | Moderate | Strongest | Maximum intelligence |
| Claude Opus 4.6 | Moderate | Strongest | Latest and most capable |
| Claude Haiku 4.5 | Very fast | Good | Fast and affordable |
How to Choose
Start with GPT-4.1 Mini or GPT-4.1 Nano. These models deliver the low latency needed for natural voice conversations at the best price. They handle the vast majority of business use cases — lead qualification, appointment booking, FAQ handling, customer support, and outbound campaigns.
Only upgrade to a more advanced model if you find that your agent struggles with specific types of conversations:
- The agent misunderstands multi-step requests — try GPT-4.1 or GPT-5 Mini
- Responses lack appropriate emotional tone — try GPT-4o or Claude Sonnet 4.6
- Complex logic or analysis is needed — try GPT-5, Gemini 3.1 Pro, or Claude Opus 4.6
- The agent struggles with nuanced or ambiguous questions — try a Pro or Opus tier model
You can change the model at any time in the agent builder without losing your other settings.
Next Steps
- Creating an Agent -- configure your agent's full setup
- LLM Integrations -- technical details on supported language models