Reka Flash (non-reasoning)

Cost-effective, multimodal, non-reasoning powerhouse

Reka Flash (non-reasoning)

Reka Flash offers a cost-effective, high-context window solution for multimodal tasks, excelling in speed for its price point, though it sits at the lower end of intelligence benchmarks.

MultimodalHigh ContextCost-EffectiveFast InferenceProprietaryNon-Reasoning

Reka Flash (Sep '24) emerges as a compelling option for developers seeking a balance between performance and cost, particularly for applications that benefit from multimodal input and a substantial context window. Positioned as a non-reasoning model, it is engineered for efficiency in tasks where complex logical inference is not the primary requirement, such as content generation, summarization, or data extraction from diverse inputs.

Despite its classification among the least intelligent models on the Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index, scoring 19 against an average of 28 for comparable models, Reka Flash distinguishes itself through its robust technical specifications. It boasts an impressive 128k token context window, enabling it to process extensive amounts of information in a single query. Furthermore, its multimodal capabilities, including support for image input, open up a wide array of use cases that leverage visual data alongside text.

From a performance perspective, Reka Flash delivers a median output speed of 71 tokens per second. While this is slower than the overall market average of 94 tokens per second, it represents a competitive offering within its price segment, especially for a model with its context handling and multimodal features. The latency, or time to first token (TTFT), stands at 1.31 seconds, indicating a moderate response time suitable for many interactive applications.

Pricing for Reka Flash is structured to be generally accessible, with input tokens at $0.20 per 1M and output tokens at $0.80 per 1M. This input pricing is moderately competitive, aligning closely with the market average. However, the output token price is somewhat higher than average, suggesting that applications requiring very verbose outputs might incur higher costs. The blended price, calculated at a 3:1 input-to-output token ratio, is $0.35 per 1M tokens, highlighting its cost-effectiveness for scenarios with more input than output.

In summary, Reka Flash is a strategic choice for developers prioritizing high-volume, multimodal content processing and generation where the core task does not demand advanced reasoning. Its large context window and competitive speed, coupled with a reasonable overall cost structure, make it a strong contender for specific, well-defined applications.

Scoreboard

Intelligence

19 (#58 / 77 / 1 out of 4 units)

Among the least intelligent models, scoring 19 on the Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index, significantly below the average of 28 for comparable models.
Output speed

71 tokens/s

While slower than the overall average of 94 tokens/s, it offers competitive speed for its price bracket and large context window.
Input price

$0.20 /1M tokens

Moderately priced, aligning well with the average of $0.25 for input tokens.
Output price

$0.80 /1M tokens

Somewhat expensive compared to the average of $0.60, impacting overall cost for verbose outputs.
Verbosity signal

N/A Unknown

Verbosity metrics are not available for Reka Flash, making it difficult to assess its output efficiency in this regard.
Provider latency

1.31 seconds

A latency of 1.31 seconds indicates a moderate time to first token, suitable for many interactive applications.

Technical specifications

Spec Details
Owner Reka AI
License Proprietary
Context Window 128k tokens
Modality Multimodal (Text, Image)
Intelligence Index 19 (1/4 units)
Output Speed 71 tokens/s
Latency (TTFT) 1.31 seconds
Input Token Price $0.20 / 1M tokens
Output Token Price $0.80 / 1M tokens
Blended Price (3:1 Input:Output) $0.35 / 1M tokens
Model Type Non-reasoning
Release Date September 2024

What stands out beyond the scoreboard

Where this model wins
  • Multimodal Capabilities: Supports image input, enabling diverse applications from visual content analysis to creative generation.
  • Large Context Window: A 128k token context window allows for processing extensive documents, long conversations, or complex data sets in a single query.
  • Cost-Effective for Input-Heavy Tasks: With a competitive input token price and a favorable blended rate for input-dominant workflows, it offers good value.
  • Competitive Speed for its Class: Delivers solid output speed, especially considering its multimodal nature and large context, making it efficient for many tasks.
  • Suitable for Non-Reasoning Tasks: Excels in tasks like summarization, translation, content generation, and data extraction where complex logical inference is not paramount.
  • Proprietary Model: Developed and maintained by Reka AI, offering a focused and potentially optimized experience through their API.
Where costs sneak up
  • Lower Intelligence Score: Its position among less intelligent models means it may require more careful prompting or fine-tuning for nuanced tasks, potentially increasing development effort.
  • Higher Output Token Price: The $0.80/1M output token price is above average, which can lead to higher costs for applications that generate very verbose or lengthy responses.
  • Slower than Top-Tier Models: While competitive for its price, its 71 tokens/s output speed is notably slower than the fastest models on the market, which might impact real-time, high-throughput applications.
  • Unknown Verbosity: The lack of verbosity metrics makes it challenging to predict and optimize output length and efficiency, potentially leading to unexpected token consumption.
  • Sole Provider Dependency: Currently available only through Reka AI, limiting options for provider-specific optimizations or redundancy.

Provider pick

Reka Flash is exclusively offered by Reka AI, ensuring a direct and integrated experience with the model's developers. This singular provider model simplifies choice but emphasizes the importance of understanding Reka AI's service level agreements and support.

Priority Pick Why Tradeoff to accept
Balanced Performance Reka AI As the sole provider, Reka AI offers direct access to Reka Flash, ensuring optimal integration and performance as intended by the model's creators. No alternative providers for comparison or redundancy.

Note: Provider performance and pricing are subject to change. Always verify current offerings directly with the provider.

Real workloads cost table

Understanding the real-world cost implications of Reka Flash involves analyzing common use cases and estimating token consumption. The following scenarios illustrate potential costs based on Reka AI's pricing structure ($0.20/1M input, $0.80/1M output).

Scenario Input Output What it represents Estimated cost
Image Captioning & Description 1 image + 50 tokens text prompt 150 tokens detailed description Generating descriptive text for visual content, e.g., e-commerce product descriptions or accessibility alt-text. $0.000130
Long Document Summarization 10,000 tokens document 500 tokens summary Condensing extensive reports or articles into concise summaries for quick review. $0.002400
Multimodal Data Extraction 1 image + 2,000 tokens invoice text 200 tokens structured data (JSON) Extracting key information from scanned documents or images combined with text. $0.000560
Creative Content Generation 500 tokens creative brief 2,000 tokens blog post draft Drafting marketing copy, blog posts, or creative narratives based on specific prompts. $0.001700
Customer Support Response Generation 1,500 tokens customer query & history 300 tokens personalized response Automating initial responses or drafting suggestions for customer service agents. $0.000660
Code Snippet Generation 200 tokens problem description 800 tokens code snippet + explanation Assisting developers by generating boilerplate code or function implementations. $0.000680

Reka Flash demonstrates cost-effectiveness for tasks with a higher input-to-output token ratio, especially when leveraging its multimodal capabilities. However, scenarios demanding very verbose outputs will see costs rise due to the higher output token price. Strategic prompt engineering to control output length is key to optimizing expenses.

How to control cost (a practical playbook)

Optimizing costs with Reka Flash involves a multi-faceted approach, balancing its strengths with its pricing structure. Here are key strategies to maximize efficiency and minimize expenditure.

1. Master Prompt Engineering for Conciseness

Given Reka Flash's higher output token price, crafting prompts that encourage concise yet comprehensive responses is paramount. Avoid open-ended prompts that might lead to excessive verbosity.

  • Specify Output Length: Explicitly request outputs of a certain length (e.g., "Summarize in 3 sentences," "Provide 5 bullet points").
  • Define Output Format: Use structured formats like JSON or bullet points to guide the model towards succinct and relevant information.
  • Iterative Refinement: Experiment with different prompt variations to find the most token-efficient way to achieve desired results.
2. Leverage the Large Context Window Strategically

The 128k context window is a significant asset, but using it indiscriminately can lead to higher input costs. Be mindful of what information truly needs to be included in each prompt.

  • Pre-process Inputs: Filter or summarize lengthy documents before feeding them to the model if only specific sections are relevant.
  • Batch Related Queries: For tasks involving multiple related pieces of information, consolidate them into a single, larger prompt to reduce overhead, provided it doesn't compromise clarity.
  • Contextual Caching: For ongoing conversations or document analysis, consider caching relevant context and only sending new, essential information with each turn.
3. Optimize for Multimodal Efficiency

Reka Flash's image input capability is powerful. Ensure you're using it efficiently to avoid unnecessary processing or redundant information.

  • Image Resolution: Use appropriate image resolutions. Higher resolutions consume more tokens. If the detail isn't critical, downscale.
  • Combine Modalities Thoughtfully: Integrate image and text inputs only when both are truly necessary for the task, rather than sending images for purely text-based queries.
  • Task-Specific Prompts: Tailor prompts specifically for multimodal tasks to guide the model in extracting relevant visual and textual information efficiently.
4. Monitor and Analyze Usage Patterns

Regularly review your API usage logs and costs to identify patterns and areas for optimization. This data-driven approach is crucial for long-term cost management.

  • Track Token Consumption: Implement logging to track input and output token counts for different application features.
  • Identify High-Cost Workflows: Pinpoint specific use cases or user interactions that are disproportionately contributing to your overall spend.
  • A/B Test Prompt Variations: Conduct experiments with different prompting strategies and measure their impact on both output quality and token usage.

FAQ

What is Reka Flash (Sep '24)?

Reka Flash (Sep '24) is a multimodal, non-reasoning AI model developed by Reka AI. It is designed for efficient processing of text and image inputs, offering a large 128k token context window and competitive speed for its price point, making it suitable for a wide range of content generation and data extraction tasks.

What are the main strengths of Reka Flash?

Its primary strengths include its multimodal capabilities (image input), a very large 128k token context window, and its cost-effectiveness, particularly for input-heavy workflows. It also offers a respectable output speed for its class, making it a strong contender for high-volume, non-reasoning tasks.

What are the limitations of Reka Flash?

Reka Flash is classified as a non-reasoning model and scores lower on intelligence benchmarks, meaning it may not be ideal for tasks requiring complex logical inference or deep understanding. Its output token price is also somewhat higher than average, and its overall speed is not as fast as the top-tier models.

Does Reka Flash support image input?

Yes, Reka Flash is a multimodal model that fully supports image input, allowing users to incorporate visual data alongside text in their prompts for tasks like image captioning, visual question answering, and multimodal data extraction.

What is the context window size for Reka Flash?

Reka Flash features an impressive 128k token context window, enabling it to process and understand very long documents, extensive chat histories, or large datasets within a single API call.

How is Reka Flash priced?

Reka Flash is priced at $0.20 per 1 million input tokens and $0.80 per 1 million output tokens. A blended price of $0.35 per 1 million tokens is also provided, calculated based on a 3:1 input-to-output token ratio.

What are ideal use cases for Reka Flash?

Ideal use cases include large-scale document summarization, multimodal content generation (e.g., generating descriptions from images), data extraction from complex documents, automated customer support responses, and creative writing tasks where advanced reasoning is not the primary bottleneck.


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