Get startedGet started for free

Understanding the cost of AI assistants

You’re building an internal tool that uses an AI model to generate unit tests. You’re evaluating two models, Model A and Model B, and you know the following:

  • Both models have identical per-token pricing.
  • For each request, both models use about the same number of input tokens and the same number of output tokens to produce the test itself.
  • Model B also emits an extra 1,500 “reasoning” tokens per request that are billed but do not improve test quality.

Given the cost per token for each model, which one, A or B, is the most cost-effective solution?

This exercise is part of the course

AI-Assisted Coding for Developers

View Course

Hands-on interactive exercise

Turn theory into action with one of our interactive exercises

Start Exercise