ai-cli

Models

Select models, compare outputs, and configure defaults.

Default models

Each command type has a default model used when -m is not specified:

TypeDefaultEnv override
textopenai/gpt-5.5AI_CLI_TEXT_MODEL
imageopenai/gpt-image-2AI_CLI_IMAGE_MODEL
videobytedance/seedance-2.0AI_CLI_VIDEO_MODEL
speechopenai/tts-1AI_CLI_SPEECH_MODEL
transcriptionopenai/whisper-1AI_CLI_TRANSCRIPTION_MODEL

The -m flag always takes priority over environment variables.

Specifying a model

Use creator/model-name format:

bash
ai text -m "anthropic/claude-sonnet-4" "hello"
ai image -m "bfl/flux-2-pro" "a sunset"
ai audio speak -m "openai/tts-1" "hello"

Short names (without the creator prefix) are resolved against models fetched from the gateway:

bash
ai text -m gpt-5.5 "hello"
ai image -m flux-2-pro "a sunset"
ai audio speak -m tts-1 "hello"

Multi-model comparison

Generate with multiple models by comma-separating -m:

bash
ai image "a sunset" -m "openai/gpt-image-1,xai/grok-imagine-image,bfl/flux-2-pro"

Combine with -n to generate multiple per model:

bash
ai image "a sunset" -n 2 -m "openai/gpt-image-1,bfl/flux-2-pro"

This produces 4 images total (2 per model), saved with generated filename stems and numeric suffixes, such as resp_abc-1.png through resp_def-4.png.

Listing models

bash
ai models                          # all models
ai models --type image             # image models only
ai models --type audio             # speech and transcription models
ai models --creator google         # Google models only
ai models --json                   # JSON with descriptions

In human mode, models are grouped by creator and display short names. Use --json for machine-readable output with full IDs and descriptions.

Model info

Pass a model ID (or short name) to ai models to see its details — context window, max output tokens, pricing (input, output, cache read/write, web search), release date and per-provider latency, throughput and uptime:

bash
ai models claude-opus-4.6                    # detail card
ai models anthropic/claude-opus-4.6 --json   # machine-readable, includes raw pricing and endpoints

Claude Opus 4.6  anthropic/claude-opus-4.6
Released 2026-02-05 · tool-use · reasoning · vision · web-search

  Context      1M
  Max output   128K
  Input        $5/M
  Output       $25/M
  Cache read   $0.5/M
  Cache write  $6.25/M
  Web search   $10/K + input costs

Providers
  provider   context  latency  throughput  uptime
  anthropic  1M       1.4s     49tps       99.9%
  bedrock    1M       1.4s     56tps       99.9%

Latency (time to first token) and throughput are p50 over the last hour; uptime covers the last day.

Providers

All models are accessed through Vercel AI Gateway:

OpenAI

GPT-5.5, GPT-4.1, GPT Image 2, TTS, Whisper

Anthropic

Claude Sonnet 4

Google

Gemini 2.5 Pro, Imagen 4, Veo 3

xAI

Grok 3, Grok Imagine

Meta

Llama 4 Maverick

Black Forest Labs

FLUX 2 Pro, FLUX Kontext

ByteDance

Seedance 2.0, Seedream 5.0

Kling AI

Kling v3.0

Alibaba

Wan v2.5, Wan v2.6

Recraft

Recraft v2, v3, v4

Prodia

FLUX Fast Schnell