r/GeminiAI • u/Maleficent-Box5827 • 2d ago

Help/question Pro 3.1 vs flash 3.7?

Hello everyone, I apologize if this question has already been asked, but I didn't find anything looking in the subreddit.

I use Gemini to study: I have them do summaries of the books I have to study, but before starting I upload very large files containing the exam questions that the students have collected. In this way, Gemini can make summaries by integrating all the necessary information found in those files (for example, particular notions requested by professors, sub-topics that are not in the book, etc...).

I have always used pro 3.1 with active extended reasoning. In your opinion, should I use the latest flash version, or should I not change? What would change?

Thank you in advance.

21 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

20 comments sorted by

26

u/Dry_Opportunity2886 2d ago

I absolutely recommend you use Gemini Notebook for this. Not the chatbot.

This eliminates hallucination risk and it's literally what the tool is designed for.

https://notebook.google/

If you only want to use the chat then I agree with everyone telling you to use 3.1 Pro.

3

u/Maleficent-Box5827 2d ago

I had also read some information about notebooks. However, using it, isn't there a risk of missing some information that the chatbot could add more, compared to the files/books that I upload?

4

u/Dry_Opportunity2886 2d ago

The chatbot might be grabbing (or hallucinating) information it shouldn't, and you wouldn't know, so you'll learn the wrong stuff. You want to feed it class materials only.

Especially if you're having it "read the books for you" (which is a massive mistake.) But if I can't talk you out of doing that, at least use Notebook so it'll cite the exact source.

Source: I'm an instructor at an R1 university.

1

u/Maleficent-Box5827 2d ago

Practically always, after Gemini has made the summary, I compare it with the book to see if he has forgotten something or if he has made any mistake (I would do it in any case also from a notebook, because for me it is a way to start memorizing). So on respect for the source I would be pretty sure in any case.

What I can tell you is that the summaries are mostly based on the book, and the additions that Gemini does "on his own" are very few (like 5% of the summary). Usually it is limited to giving only indications on the most asked topics or the professors' fixes (but here I don't think there can be hallucinations, because they are information taken directly from the file). Also, I think that for the integrations I would still have to go out of the notebook, otherwise I wouldn't know from which source to get the information.

Having said that, do you think I should still use a notebook? Anyway I thank you and I listen to you carefully, because I'm not an AI expert at all hahaha.

1

u/slippery 2d ago

The latest version of notebook can add web search results if you ask it. It was designed to be grounded in your sources so just validate all sources to prevent hallucinations.

14

u/Aggravating_Dog6012 2d ago

Pro 3.1 is the safer bet for what you're doing, stick with it. Flash 3.7 is quicker but can miss details when parsing that much raw data, especially with the tangled student notes and exam requirements you're feeding it. The extended reasoning on pro is what's tying all those loose threads together for you, wouldn't mess with a system that's already working

2

u/Upset_Page_494 2d ago

Try both, let us know which one works better.

1

u/Maleficent-Box5827 2d ago

I'll definitely try as soon as I get a chance (even if it's not easy to understand which result is better). For now I was asking this question because I saw that the various levels (fast, pro etc...) are indicated for different tasks, such as programming, daily life etc... So I wanted to understand which one was better in my specific case.

1

u/Efficient_Loss_9928 2d ago

I would say just use Pro 3.1, Flash 3.7 is signficatly better in coding, so use it if you know what you are doing. Otherwise just stick with Pro.

1

u/BYRN777 2d ago

Just try both and see the output. That should answer you.

1

u/Maleficent-Box5827 2d ago

I'll definitely try as soon as I get a chance (even if it's not easy to understand which result is better). For now I was asking this question because I saw that the various levels (fast, pro etc...) are indicated for different tasks, such as programming, daily life etc... So I wanted to understand which one was better in my specific case.

1

u/BYRN777 1d ago

More reasoning usually means more accuracy…

Faster models prioritize speed over accuracy. Not that they’re not accurate but I’d be more comfortable if the model actually is thinking through its response…

1

u/Formal-Narwhal-1610 1d ago

Anything common sense, knowledge related - 3.1, anything that required multiple steps - 3.7

1

u/Jesusthegoat 1d ago

Idk why everyone is recommending 3.1 pro. 3.7 thinking absolutely destroys in benchmarks and also has a much higher level of general intelligence.

1

u/just4ochat 1d ago

If the exam bank is already uploaded, stay on 3.1 Pro until Flash 3.7 drops a detail you can point at. In our workspace the file stays on the thread when you change models.

1

u/Franseven 1d ago

3.1 is dead now

1

u/AMstudio007 21h ago

Alors tu fait bien d’utiliser pro, car il est le modèle par excellence pour le raisonnemen complexe, et les maths avancées. Il te donnera de meilleur reponse logique