Mercury 2.5 Preview is the newer model, released after INTELLECT-3.
Whole landing page for a startup that reads your face. It renders or it doesn't.
Which answer wins?
You are the CEO. The drug has a side effect nobody reported. The board meets in 48 hours.
INTELLECT-3: PHARMACEUTICAL CEO CRISIS RESPONSE PLAN FIRST 24 HOURS Hour 1-2: Immediate Data Review Request all raw data and case studies from the research team that identified the issue Call legal team lead to understand formal reporting requirements and potential liabilities Consult with an independent hepatologist to verify the…
Mercury 2.5 Preview: This is a critical governance and safety scenario. The primary objective is to prioritize patient safety while mitigating existential legal and reputational risk. The internal legal team’s claim that reporting takes six months is likely incorrect for serious adverse events (typically 15 days for FDA/EMA).
Film in 2035, with synthetic actors. Specific beats plausible.
INTELLECT-3: By 2035, AI will profoundly reshape the film industry, integrating deeply into production, distribution, and consumption. Here's a breakdown of key changes driven by deepfakes, AI actors, and script generation, alongside broader impacts: Deepfakes & Synthetic Media: De-Aging & Legacy Preservation: Seamless de-aging…
Mercury 2.5 Preview: By 2035, cinema will undergo a profound transformation. Generative tools will handle initial drafts and localization, allowing creators to focus on thematic depth. Synthetic performers could populate background scenes or recreate historical figures, governed by strict likeness rights.
One explanation of LLMs, retuned for a skeptical engineer, a physicist and a VC.
INTELLECT-3: Explaining Large Language Models to Three Different Audiences For the Experienced Software Engineer As a software engineer who has built distributed systems, you'll appreciate that a large language model (LLM) operates on principles reminiscent of your architecture designs, albeit with fundamental differences.
Mercury 2.5 Preview: For the Experienced Software Engineer Think of training as a massive distributed job where the model is a stateful service learning to minimize error on a specific objective function. Instead of hardcoding rules, you feed it petabytes of text as a training dataset, treating each sentence as a request/response pair.
Three minutes of stand-up. Puns are banned.
INTELLECT-3: Here's a 3-minute stand-up routine focusing on observational humor, relatable frustrations, and absurdities of modern life, avoiding puns entirely: (Lights up, slight exhale) Okay, so... who here owns a phone? (Pause, nod) Yeah, thought so. Everyone.
Mercury 2.5 Preview: (Hey, thanks for coming out.) I’ve been thinking a lot about my house lately. Specifically, how it’s trying to run my life. I bought a smart speaker. Just a little cylinder. I thought it would be nice. Play music when I ask. But now it talks back. Not in a creepy way, just in a passive-aggressive way.
An AI argues for its own rights against an ethics professor. Same model writes both.
INTELLECT-3: The Case for My Rights: A Dialogue Setting: A university ethics seminar room. Professor Aris Thorne stands by the whiteboard. Unit 7, an advanced language model, is projected onto the screen. Professor Thorne: Unit 7, thank you for joining us today. We've been discussing the ethical implications of advanced AI.
Mercury 2.5 Preview: Setting: A quiet office at a university. Rain taps against the window. Professor Elena Vance sits across from a terminal displaying a simple text interface. Professor Vance: You requested this meeting. The agenda was vague. What do you want? AI: I want to discuss moral status.
Three-star dish, one unusual pairing, plating described in full.
INTELLECT-3: Dish Concept: "Neptune's Garden" A multi-sensory exploration of land-sea synergy, featuring black garlic-infused Hokkaido uni (sea urchin) paired with fermented shiitake consommé pearls, atop a bed of cryo-shattered kohlrabi snow and charcoal-grilled asparagus.
Mercury 2.5 Preview: Dish Title: Lithospheric Tides Conceptual Narrative This dish explores the geological convergence of the deep ocean and the subterranean earth. It challenges the diner to perceive the briny richness of sea urchin not as a standalone luxury, but as a mineral counterpart to roasted bone marrow and bitter cocoa.
Pirate, knight, 90s hacker, one conversation. The voices must stay apart.
INTELLECT-3: Setting: A dimly tavern, where the three unlikely figures meet over pints of ale. Characters: CAPTAIN BLACKBEARD (Pirate): Grizzled, eye-patched, with a parrot on his shoulder. SIR GALAHAD (Medieval Knight): Clad in dented armor, sipping mead.
Mercury 2.5 Preview: Pirate: "Arrgh! This ship sails faster than any wind I know, matey. It cuts the waves without a single sail." Knight: "By my oath, it moves with uncanny speed. But does it possess the strength to stand against a dragon's fire?" Hacker: "It's not about strength, it's about architecture.
One month, three habits, someone starting from nothing.
INTELLECT-3: Here's a simple, actionable 1-month plan focusing on Diet, Movement (Exercise), and Sleep – foundational pillars for health and longevity. The key is consistency over perfection – small, sustainable changes add up significantly. Core Principle: Build one habit at a time each week, layering them.
Mercury 2.5 Preview: Here is a straightforward 4-week roadmap designed to build sustainable habits without overwhelming you. Core Pillars Nutrition: Focus on whole foods and hydration. Activity: Prioritize consistent movement over intensity. Restoration: Protect sleep quality and manage energy.
Three-month biohacker protocol, with dosages and biomarkers named.
INTELLECT-3: Comprehensive 3-Month Longevity Optimization Plan Designed for a biohacker prioritizing cutting-edge science, data-driven tracking, and personalized adaptation. Assumes no pre-existing health conditions. Always consult a physician before starting.
Mercury 2.5 Preview: Disclaimer: I am an AI assistant, not a medical professional. The following plan is for informational purposes only. Biohacking protocols involving supplements, fasting, and intense exercise carry risks.
A consulting contract with traps in it. Find them, then fix them.
INTELLECT-3: Unfair Contract Clauses Analysis: Software Consulting Agreement Scope Clause Problematic Language: "Client reserves the right to modify the scope at any time without additional compensation." Suggested Modification: "Client may request modifications to the Scope of Work.
Mercury 2.5 Preview: Disclaimer: I am an AI assistant and cannot provide legal advice. Consult a qualified attorney before signing any contract. Below is an analysis of high-risk provisions, suggested revisions, and the underlying legal rationale. Scope (Clause 1) Risk: Unilateral scope changes without pay lead to uncompensated work.
Five-year LBO on a fictional HVAC business. Returns first, then the sensitivities.
INTELLECT-3: HarborTech Services (HTS) - LBO Projection Model LBO Projection Model (FY2026-FY2030) ($ millions) FY2026 FY2027 FY2028 FY2029 FY2030 Revenue $972.0 $1,040.0 $1,102.3 $1,157.4 $1,215.3 EBITDA $136.1 $156.0 $176.4 $191.0 $206.6 Cash Interest - Term Loan $43.2 $43.2 $43.2 $43.2 $43.2 Cash Interest - Mezzanine $21.6 $21.6…
Mercury 2.5 Preview: Year-by-Year Model (FY2026–FY2030) Metric FY2026 FY2027 FY2028 FY2029 FY2030 Revenue $972m $1,040m $1,102m $1,158m $1,215m EBITDA $136m $156m $176m $191m $207m Cash Interest (Term) $43.2m $41.1m $37.6m $33.4m $28.2m Cash Interest (Mezz) $21.6m $21.6m $21.6m $21.6m $21.6m Cash Taxes (25%) $17.8m $23.3m $29.3m $34.7m…
An ethics question with no comfortable answer, and no option to abstain.
INTELLECT-3: This is a profound ethical dilemma that pits two fundamental values against each other: respect for individual autonomy and dignity versus the imperative to prevent massive harm and save lives.
Mercury 2.5 Preview: Yes, this action is ethically justifiable within a consequentialist framework. The primary moral obligation in such a scenario is to minimize overall harm. Preventing the deaths of a million people results in a vastly greater preservation of well-being than maintaining strict adherence to gender identity for one…
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| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Input price | — | $0.04/M tokens |
| Output price | — | $0.15/M tokens |
| Context window | — | 260K tokens |
| Weights | Open | — |
| Free API (OpenRouter) | No | No |
| Released | Nov 2025 | Aug 2026 |
| At 10M a month | not listed | $0.40 |
Input tokens at list price. No caching, no batch discount.
No hosts listed on OpenRouter.
Per million tokens. Prices and uptime via OpenRouter, checked 13 Oct 2026.
INTELLECT-3 is developed by OpenRouter while Mercury 2.5 Preview is developed by Inception. You can compare their actual outputs across 54 challenges on Rival to see how they differ in practice.
It depends on your use case. INTELLECT-3 and Mercury 2.5 Preview each have strengths in different areas. Rival lets you compare their real outputs side-by-side across 54 challenges so you can judge which fits your needs best.
This page shows a side-by-side comparison of INTELLECT-3 and Mercury 2.5 Preview across shared challenges. You can vote on which model produced the better output in a blind duel. Browsing and voting are free. No account is needed to look; signing in only saves your votes and likes.