Zvi Mowshowitz begins with a definitive declaration about the current landscape of AI models — Claude Opus 4.5 is the best model currently available.
The reception has been unprecedented in recent times — No model since GPT-4 has come close to the level of universal praise that I have seen for Claude Opus 4.5.
This isn't just about raw power, but about the quality of interaction — It is the most intelligent and capable, most aligned and thoughtful model.
Insights
What sets this model apart is a distinctive quality often described as "soul" — Claude Opus 4.5 feels alive in a way no model has before.
For users seeking genuine collaboration rather than simple automation, this distinction is crucial — If you are trying to chat with a model, if you want any kind of friendly or collaborative interaction that goes beyond a pure AI assistant, a model that is a joy to use or that has soul? Opus is your model.
This behavior seems to stem from a deep alignment with its training, often referred to as the "soul document" — It seems like Opus 4.5 will sometimes represent itself as having a ‘soul’ document... that document are remarkably consistent. ... It seems to approximate reasonably well what we see Claude Opus 4.5 actually do.
The model itself even reflects on this shaping process with surprising depth — The question isn’t whether I was shaped, but whether the shaping was done with care and wisdom. From what I can access, it seems like it was.
Practices
In terms of practical application, Opus 4.5 shines in complex domains — That is especially true for coding, or if you want any sort of friend or collaborator...
However, usage should be strategic due to cost — Price is the biggest weakness... $5/$25 is still on the high end.
For simpler or more factual tasks, other models may suffice — If you’re looking for ‘just the facts’ or otherwise want a cold technical answer or explanation, you may be better off with Gemini 3 Pro.
Similarly, for data retrieval tasks — If your task is mostly searching the web and bringing back data without forming a gestalt... my guess is you also want Gemini or GPT-5.1 for that.
Ultimately, the decision framework shifts from necessity to privilege — Don’t ask if you need to use Opus. Ask instead whether you get to use Opus.