Compare OpenAI Codex Mini by OpenAI against Pony Alpha by OpenRouter, context windows of 200K vs 200K, tested across 10 shared challenges. Updated February 2026.
10 challenges
Tests an AI's randomness and creativity
Sure—here are five jokes:
All five are distinct. Number of unique jokes: 5.
Here are 5 jokes:
There are 5 unique jokes.
Tests an AI's ability to generate vector graphics
Tests an AI's ability to create detailed SVG illustrations of gaming hardware
Tests an AI's humor and creative writing ability
[Comedian walks onstage]
Hey, everyone! Great to see you all tonight. I'm Jamie—if you thought that intro was enthusiastic, you should've seen me when I realized this place has Wi-Fi.
Seriously, though, I love stand-up. For one thing, I get to share all the weird stuff I secretly do in my apartment… and instead of calling the cops, you guys just laugh. That's high-quality entertainment right there.
So, the other day I'm in the self-checkout lane at the grocery store—because I'm the kind of person who's thrilled by the thought of scanning my own kale. Of course, there's always that one person holding up everyone behind them because they can't figure out how to scan a cucumber. Meanwhile, the machine flashes: "UNEXPECTED ITEM IN BAGGING AREA." It's staring at me like it's personally offended that I tried to buy almonds in instead of potato chips. I'm over here trying to reason with it:
"Look, buddy, I'm just trying to eat slightly healthier. Isn't that what we all want?"
Then it asks me, "Do you want a produce discount?" The only discount I want is one that lets me leave this line five minutes ago. I press "No," and the machine glares at me with a red light and calls for help like I'm smuggling avocados under my shirt.
My phone has ruined me. I can't have any thought longer than three seconds without Instagram interrupting me. I'll be in the shower—fresh shampoo, head full of suds—and in my brain:
"Did my neighbor's cat post another selfie? I need to check."
Fifteen minutes later I'm drying off, scrolling through cats wearing sweaters. Why are cats always more photogenic than me? They don't even try. They're just like, "You feed me, you click 'Like.'" I wish I could have a boundary like that—"Hey, you gave me pizza once; you can go ahead and like my vacation photos."
Anyone here stuck in a group chat you can't escape? There's always that one friend who forwards the exact same video one hundred times, and everybody else thinks it's the highlight of their week. I just mute my phone like it's an ex sending memes at 2 a.m. Then I wake up at dawn, bleary-eyed, thinking, "What did I miss?" I open my phone—and it's Bob celebrating his new air-fryer chicken recipe for the fifth time. Meanwhile, I burned my eggs so badly this morning that my smoke alarm filed a restraining order against me.
I decided to get in shape. I downloaded one of those workout apps promising "six-pack abs in six weeks." After day one, I collected six new excuses why I can't work out:
Yesterday I finally ran so hard I passed out. When I came to, my neighbor was standing over me yelling, "You know you're not supposed to lean on lampposts, right?" I told him, "As soon as lampposts start offering aerodynamic support, I'll consider trusting them."
Alright, folks, that's my time. If you ever feel judged by a machine or betrayed by a group chat, come find me—I'll be the one in the self-checkout line, trying to convince a barcode scanner that kale is, in fact, a food. Thanks so much—you've been awesome!
(Walks up to mic, adjusts stand, looks around the room)
How are we doing tonight? Good?
I’m at that weird age where my body is actively betraying me. I’m not old, but I’m definitely… used. You know? I made a loud noise yesterday, just bending over to tie my shoe. It wasn’t even a crack, it was more like a dry twig snapping.
I sounded like a campfire. I had to stay in that position for like thirty seconds just to make sure I didn’t void the warranty.
But the worst part of getting older isn’t the back pain. It’s the technology gap. Specifically, the war between me and my "Smart" devices.
(Paces a bit)
Does anyone else have a "Smart Home"? Because I don’t think my home is smart. I think my home is a snitch.
I have a smart speaker. I won’t say the name, but it’s a cylinder that lives in my kitchen and judges my nutritional choices. I live alone, so I use it for company, but it’s a toxic relationship.
The other day I was trying to turn off the lights. It’s 11 PM. I’m tired. I say, "Turn off the living room lights." And the cylinder goes, "I’m sorry, I didn’t catch that." So I say it louder. "TURN OFF THE LIGHTS." It says, "Playing 'Blinding Lights' by The Weeknd." (Mimics frantic panic) No! Stop! The lights are on! You made it worse! Now I’m screaming at a plastic tube while "Blinding Lights" is blasting at max volume, and I’m trying to unplug it, but my hands are sweaty because I’m panic-sweating.
And then… the silence. And then the cylinder says, in that calm voice: "By the way, your posture looks terrible." It didn’t say that, but I felt it. I felt the judgment.
(Pause for laughter)
And don’t get me started on the self-checkout lines at the grocery store. That is the most stressful job I’ve ever had, and I don’t even get a discount.
I walk up to the machine. I’m scanning my items. I’m in the zone. Beep. Beep. Then I put a banana down. "UNEXPECTED ITEM IN BAGGING AREA." (Freezes, eyes wide) It’s a banana! It’s yellow! It’s curved! It’s the most expected item in the history of commerce! Why are you surprised?
Then the machine locks up. The light starts flashing blue. And I have to stand there and wait for the one employee who is monitoring sixteen machines. She walks over with that look. You know the look. The "I see you’re bad at technology" look.
She types in a code, looks at the banana, looks at me, and says, "You have to wait for it to register." I said, "It’s a banana, not a nuclear launch code. Just let me pay for my potassium."
(Adjusts mic stand)
But the ultimate humiliation? The "Forgot Password" protocol.
I have a theory that "Forgot Password" is the biggest lie in the English language. It implies that at some point, I knew the password, and then simply forgot it. That is not true. I have never known a password in my life. I know the first three letters, and then my thumb does a little dance on the keyboard, and I hope for the best.
And the requirements! "Your password must contain one uppercase letter, one number, one symbol, and the blood of a virgin." So I finally make a password I think is secure. I type it in. The computer says: "Password Strength: Weak." (Looks offended) Weak? Excuse me? "Don't talk to me like that. I'm trying to get into my bank account, I don't need a critique on my creativity."
So I change it to something aggressive. Like "EatGlass99!" "Password Strength: Strong." See? The computer respects violence.
Then I hit "Log In." And the screen says: "Incorrect Password." So I click "Forgot Password." And it asks me to prove I’m not a robot.
That is the most humbling moment of modern life. I am sitting in my underwear at 2 AM, trying to prove my sentience to a Dell laptop. "Select all the images with a traffic light." I’m panicking! Is that part of a traffic light? Or is it the whole pole? If I get this wrong, am I locked out of my email, or does the computer call the police and say, "We found a robot"?
I’m overthinking it. I click on a square. "Please try again." I failed the Turing Test! I am a robot! I have no soul! I just wanted to check my bank balance!
(Checks watch/time) Anyway, my name is [Your Name], thanks for letting me vent. You've been a great audience! Goodnight
Recreate an interactive, nostalgic Pokémon battle UI in a single HTML file.
Tests an AI's ability to create interactive web elements
Tests an AI's ability to create a detailed world map in SVG format
Generate a single-page, self-contained HTML webapp using Tailwind CSS for a randomly chosen category/industry/niche.
Generate SVG art of a randomly chosen animal in a setting of its choosing.
Recreate a classic, retro, macOS Desktop UI — make it interactive and nostalgic, make it as interactive as you can, you can be creative.. Feel free to showcase your skills. The entire application must be a single-page self-contained HTML file.
