In the fast-paced world of software development, artificial intelligence (AI) has become an essential ally for programmers.
With new models like the o1 or Claude constantly appearing, choosing the right tool is vital. Programming applied to Artificial Intelligence is now based on performance tests that help us determine which model offers the best solutions.
But how can we measure its performance objectively? We are going to explore the most outstanding models and tools of the moment, based on recognized benchmarks and the practical experience of developers.
Although data on some recent models is still limited, this article is intended to be a useful guide to choosing the right AI or discovering new options that suit your needs as a programmer.
Best AI models to program
The most advanced artificial intelligence models for programming are mainly evaluated through benchmarks such as HumanEval, created by OpenAI.
This standard includes 164 unit-tested programming problems, and its primary metric, pass@1, measures the percentage of problems solved correctly on the first attempt.
Below, we present a table with the most notable models according to the data available until March 2025:
Claude 3.5 Sonnet
With an impressive 92.0% on HumanEval, this Anthropic model is positioned as a leader in code generation and reasoning. Claude 3.7 Sonnet, is billed as the most advanced model in Anthropic’s solutions network to date.
Although there is no specific HumanEval data yet for the new version, promised improvements in coding tasks suggest that it could surpass its predecessor.
GPT-4o
Developed by OpenAI, GPT-4o achieves 90.2% in HumanEval. Its versatility to generate code in multiple languages and its ability to understand complex instructions make it very popular among developers.
Additionally, in February 2025, OpenAI unveiled GPT-4.5, also known as “Orion,” its largest and most advanced model to date. GPT-4.5 is available to Pro users and developers via the OpenAI API.
Grok-2
With 88.4%, this xAI model stands out for its reasoning capacity and its multimodal approach, which allows code to be combined with other types of data. Although launched in 2023, it remains competitive thanks to its innovative design.
In February 2025, xAI launched Grok-3, its most advanced model to date, combining superior reasoning with extensive pre-trained knowledge.
Call 3 70B Instruct
At 77.4%, this open source model from Meta is ideal for those who prefer to customize their AI. Its accessibility and flexibility make it an attractive alternative for specific projects.
AI assisted coding tools
The tools that integrate these models are the ones that truly transform the programming experience. These platforms facilitate the use of AI in integrated development environments (IDEs) and increase productivity.
How is the performance of an AI for programming measured?
The performance of an AI in programming is mainly measured with benchmarks such as HumanEval, which evaluates the accuracy of the code generated on the first attempt. However, this method has limitations as it does not reflect an AI’s ability to understand large projects or suggest practical optimizations.
There is also controversy over over-optimization in these benchmarks. Techniques such as Hierarchical Prompting have achieved perfect scores (100%) in HumanEval, but these results depend on specific settings that do not always reflect the actual performance of the model.
Therefore, combining benchmark data with practical user experiences is key for a complete evaluation.
Considerations for Spain and Europe
In Spain and the rest of Europe, there are no specific restrictions prohibiting the use of these AIs in 2025. However, the European Union is preparing the full implementation of the AI Act by August 2026 and could regulate certain artificial intelligence systems.
In Spain, the Spanish Agency for the Supervision of Artificial Intelligence (AESIA) supervises the development and use of AI, but so far there is no indication of specific prohibitions.
And where are the Chinese AIs?
Chinese models, such as DeepSeek R1, are gaining ground in the programming field. DeepSeek R1, with 671B parameters, is open source, 30 times more cost-efficient than OpenAI-o1, and strong in coding and mathematics.
However, Deepseek and other Chinese AIs face bans in many countries, due to privacy and censorship concerns. This is because they integrate restrictions from the Chinese government, with which they may have to share information.
This requires developers to be aware of possible future restrictions, and above all avoid sharing sensitive code with these models.
Choosing the best AI for programming
Choosing the best AI for programming in 2025 depends on your specific needs. If you are looking for maximum performance in benchmarks, Claude 3.7 Sonnet and GPT-4o are outstanding options.
For practical tools, GitHub Copilot stands out for its integration and ease of use, while Cursor and Perplexity Pro offer additional flexibility and support.
In such a dynamic environment, the key is to test and adapt. Benchmarks like HumanEval are a good starting point, but practical experience will determine your choice.
With these options at your fingertips, 2025 promises to be an exciting year for AI-assisted programming. Who will be your ally in the code? The future is in your hands!
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