F12 Developer Tools Packet-Capture Tutorial: Check the Real model slug ChatGPT Uses
Stop guessing—capture the packets and inspect the underlying code! This step-by-step guide shows you how to press F12 in your browser, view the JSON data returned by backend-api in network requests, and directly uncover the real model code running under the hood.
1. The Geek Way to Verify Authenticity by Completely Abandoning Subjective Guesswork
Don't judge whether a model is smart based on feelings; the browser's network request packets contain immutable hard evidence.
2. Three Steps to Capture the Real Underlying Model Slug
1. Open Chrome or Edge, sign in to chatgpt.com, and press F12 to open Developer Tools.
2. Switch to the **Network** tab and enter `conversation` in the Filter search box below.
3. Send any message in the chat input box (for example, Hello). The Network panel will then capture a POST request.
4. Click that request, switch to the **Response** or **Preview** tab on the right, and search for the keyword `model_slug`:
- If it shows `text-davinci-002-render-sha` or `gpt-4o-mini`, it means the model has been completely downgraded;
- Only if it clearly shows `gpt-4o` or the current official flagship identifier does it mean you are getting the full-strength, full-power computation!