How CLIP and GPT-4V Compare for Classification

OpenAI's CLIP model, released in January 2021, has significantly impacted image classification by allowing users to compare the similarity between text prompts and images or between two images without prior training, although it excels with general concepts and struggles with specificity. The article explores a side-by-side comparison of CLIP and GPT-4V, particularly in specialized classification tasks such as car brand identification, cup material differentiation, and pizza type determination, highlighting that both models performed equally well in these tests. While CLIP can operate locally on devices with minimal overhead, GPT-4V involves external API requests, potentially introducing delays. The experiments reveal that both models are capable in their domains, with CLIP's real-time capabilities and GPT-4V's innovative approach offering different deployment advantages. The article encourages experimentation with these models for various tasks and invites users to share their findings and experiences with the Roboflow team.