The AI race isn’t slowing down any time soon. In fact, it’s heating up with every new AI model that’s coming out. Just when we were still getting used to DeepSeek-R1, another contender stepped into the spotlight: Kimi k1.5. This model is already outperforming other AI models such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Alibaba's Qwen, Claude and its own country-mate DeepSeek on key benchmarks.
Built by Moonshot AI, a Beijing-based company, Kimi k1.5 is proving to be a serious rival to some of the most powerful AI models out there. In key performance tests, it has even outperformed GPT-4o and Claude Sonnet 3.5, showing that China is making major strides in AI innovation. This isn’t just another AI launch—it’s a clear sign that China is stepping up its game in the global AI domain.
So, What is Kimi k1.5?
Kimi k1.5 is an advanced AI model built by Moonshot AI in Beijing. Unlike OpenAI’s o1 which is adept at solving problems by breaking them down into smaller pieces, Kimi k1.5 is better at handling math and coding problems while working with multiple types of data such as text, images and videos.
Compared to OpenAI’s o1, which focuses on breaking problems into smaller steps, Kimi k1.5 is faster and more versatile. It can handle a variety of tasks, like math, coding, and processing text, images, and videos, more efficiently.
Unlike DeepSeek-R1, which mainly focuses on text, Kimi k1.5 is more powerful and flexible. Another important fact is that Kimi k1.5 costs less to develop than similar AI models in the U.S. The creators of Kimi believe it can compete directly with OpenAI’s O1, and its strong test results support this claim.
How is Kimi k1.5 Different?
Kimi k1.5 is a big step forward in AI learning and problem-solving. Unlike older AI models that work with fixed data, Kimi keeps learning and improving over time. This is because it uses a special method called reinforcement learning, where it learns from its mistakes and feedback. This helps Kimi solve complex problems by combining different types of data, like text, images, and code.
Both DeepSeek and Kimi k1.5 use reinforcement learning to improve their reasoning abilities, but they apply it differently with supervised learning. DeepSeek first tried using only RL with DeepSeek-R1-Zero, allowing the model to learn complex problem-solving on its own.
However, they later discovered that adding a small amount of supervised fine-tuning before the RL stage in DeepSeek-R1 helped improve performance and solved some of the challenges with pure RL. On the other hand, Kimi k1.5 takes a hybrid approach from the beginning. It first uses supervised fine-tuning with long Chain-of-Thought examples to build a strong reasoning foundation, then uses RL to make responses shorter and more efficient.
So, while both models use RL, DeepSeek applies supervised fine-tuning as a refinement before RL, while Kimi uses it as the first step before optimizing with RL.
Image Source: GitHub
In tests against top AI models like GPT-4o and Claude Sonnet 3.5, Kimi k1.5 achieved impressive results:
- AIME 2024 (Pass@1):
- Kimi k1.5: 77.5 (Highest)
- OpenAI o1: 74.4
- OpenAI o1-mini: 63.6
- QwQ-32B Preview: 50
Kimi leads by 3.1 points over OpenAI o1 and significantly more than the rest.
- MATH 500 (EM):
- Kimi k1.5: 96.2 (Highest)
- OpenAI o1: 94.8
- QVQ-72B Preview: 90
- QwQ-32B Preview: 90.6
Kimi leads OpenAI o1 by 1.4 points and is ahead of QVQ and QwQ models by around 6 points.
- Codeforces (Percentile):
- Kimi k1.5: 94 (Same as OpenAI o1)
- OpenAI o1: 94
- OpenAI o1-mini: 88
- QwQ-32B Preview: 62
Kimi matches OpenAI o1 but outperforms OpenAI o1-mini by 6 points and QwQ-32B by 32 points.
- LiveCodeBench v5 24.12-25.2 (Pass@1):
- OpenAI o1: 67.2 (Highest)
- Kimi k1.5: 62.5
- OpenAI o1-mini: 53.1
- QwQ-32B Preview: 40.6
Kimi is 4.7 points lower than OpenAI o1, but ahead of OpenAI o1-mini and QwQ-32B Preview by 9.4 and 21.9 points, respectively.
- MathVista (Pass@1):
- Kimi k1.5: 74.9 (Highest)
- OpenAI o1: 71
- OpenAI o1-mini: 71.4
- QVQ-72B Preview: 70
Kimi leads by 3.9 points over OpenAI o1 and 4.9 points over QVQ-72B.
- MMMU (Pass@1):
- Kimi k1.5: 77.3 (Highest)
- OpenAI o1: 70
- OpenAI o1-mini: 70.3
- QVQ-72B Preview: 70
Kimi leads by 7.3 points, showing a strong edge in vision-related tasks.
These scores show that Kimi is great at math, coding, and working with different types of data. However, some experts question whether AI companies' self-reported test results are always accurate.
How Does Kimi k1.5 Work?
One of Kimi k1.5’s biggest strengths is reinforcement learning, which helps it improve by learning from feedback. Another key method it uses is Chain-of-Thought reasoning, which means breaking complex problems into smaller, easier steps. This helps Kimi think carefully and solve problems better.
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Image Source: GitHub
Kimi can also process a huge amount of data, up to 128,000 tokens, at once. This allows it to work with large amounts of information quickly. Additionally, it can understand both text and images, making it useful for many different tasks.
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Image Source: GitHub
Key Features of Kimi k1.5
Kimi k1.5 has several features that make it stand out:
- Unlimited Free Use: Anyone can use it without limits.
- Web Search at Scale: It searches over 100 websites in real-time to provide the latest information.
- Multiple File Analysis: It can analyze up to 50 files at the same time, including PDFs, Word documents, PowerPoint slides, and images.
- Advanced Reasoning: It uses strong thinking skills to solve complex problems and explain answers clearly.
- Improved Image Analysis: It can understand and answer questions about images.
- Set Common Phrases: Users can save frequently used commands for quick access.
These features make Kimi highly useful for students, professionals, and businesses that need AI-powered assistance.
How to Access Kimi k1.5
Using Kimi k1.5 is easy:
- Go to Kimi’s website.
- Click “Log in” and create an account.
- After logging in, choose “Kimi” on the left and select “k1.5 Loong Thinking” from the menu.
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Kimi.ai is designed to focus on solving real-world problems instead of just offering fancy features. Whether you are a student, a professional, or someone who needs AI help, Kimi is built to assist you.
Kimi.ai’s Special Features
Kimi.ai is not like other AI models that just generate random text. Instead, it focuses on structured problem-solving:
- If you need a report, Kimi will organize it clearly and even add references.
- If you need social media content, Kimi will adjust the tone and suggest hashtags.
- For developers, Kimi helps debug code, explain errors, and suggest improvements.
Additionally, Kimi can provide personalized recommendations for users in different industries. For example, designers can get the best design guidelines, while business analysts can receive data-driven insights.
Training and Efficiency
Kimi operates with 90% computing efficiency, meaning it processes information quickly and smoothly. It has been trained on diverse examples, including math problems and images, making it strong across different tasks.
Additionally, it uses memory optimization techniques to reduce computing costs. This helps businesses save money while still getting powerful AI performance.
User Experience
Kimi.ai is built to be simple, distraction-free, and user-friendly. Over time, it learns your preferences and adjusts its responses to match your needs. If you prefer short or detailed answers, Kimi will respond accordingly.
Kimi also includes accessibility features like:
- Voice-to-text commands for hands-free interaction.
- Adjustable font sizes for better readability.
These features make Kimi easier to use for a wide range of people.
Multilingual Capabilities
Kimi k1.5 works well in multiple languages and understands specialized industry terms. This makes it ideal for global teams. Whether you need a report in Mandarin or a marketing campaign in Spanish, Kimi can adapt to different languages and cultures.
Additionally, businesses that operate in multiple regions can use Kimi to create localized content for different audiences.
But, Could Kimi k1.5 Face the Same Issues as Other Chinese AI Models?
Many Chinese AI models, like DeepSeek, are controlled by strict rules from the government. For example, DeepSeek avoids answering questions that could make China look bad. These rules are set by the Chinese government to control what the AI can and can't say.
But what about Kimi k1.5? Could it face the same challenges? We don’t know all the details about Kimi AI at this time, but it’s possible it might follow similar rules. If Kimi K is influenced by the same government restrictions, it could avoid answering sensitive or political questions. Can we trust Chinese AI models to be completely unbiased? Only time will tell.
Will Kimi k1.5 Have Privacy Concerns?
Another important issue is privacy. DeepSeek was banned in countries like the U.S., Australia, Korea, and many other countries because of concerns over its data practices. Governments fear that DeepSeek could be collecting and sharing personal data in ways that violate privacy laws or could be used for political purposes. If Kimi K has similar data handling practices, such as collecting data without proper consent or sharing it with the Chinese government, it could face the same bans in those countries.
Could Kimi K be banned for privacy and security reasons? It’s definitely possible, but Moonshot might have taken this into consideration when launching the AI model. As governments continue to examine how AI handles data, privacy will be an important issue for these models.
Why Kimi.ai is Worth Trying
Kimi k1.5 is more than just a chatbot, it is a smart AI assistant that can handle a wide variety of tasks, from writing reports to solving technical problems.
With its advanced learning abilities and strong problem-solving skills, Kimi seems to be a powerful tool for many users. It is fast, efficient, and free, making it accessible to anyone who needs AI assistance.
If you’re looking for an AI that adapts, learns, and delivers accurate results, Kimi k1.5 is worth checking out.
FAQs About Kimi AI
1. Is Kimi AI open-source?
Yes, Kimi AI is open-source. This means its code is available for everyone to see, use, and improve. Developers can modify it and add new features.
2. Is Kimi AI free to use?
Yes, Kimi AI is free and has no usage limits. Unlike many AI models that require payment or subscriptions, Kimi AI allows users to access all its features without any cost.
3. Is Kimi AI a Chinese model?
Yes, Kimi AI is made by Moonshot AI, a company based in China. It is one of the latest AI models developed in China to compete with global AI models.
4. What is Kimi K1.5 Loong Thinking?
Loong Thinking is an advanced feature in Kimi K1.5 that helps it think in steps. It breaks down complex problems into smaller parts to solve them more accurately. This makes it better at tasks like coding, math, and understanding long documents.
5. Is Kimi AI safe to use?
Kimi AI follows strict rules to ensure safe and ethical use. However, like all AI models, it can sometimes give wrong or biased answers. It’s always a good idea to double-check important information.