STEALTHMARK · HEAD TO HEAD

All comparisons ↗

Crouton Alpha vs MAI-Thinking-1

Crouton Alpha leads MAI-Thinking-1 by 33.9 points on StealthMark, 48.0 to 14.1. It leads on all 9 benchmarks. Crouton Alpha scores higher on Newton's Mirror, with its largest category advantage in reflections.

See the difference ↘
Model guide ↗
All results ↗

Overall StealthMark

48.0/100Overall rank 23/56
14.1/100Overall rank 54/56

General Intelligence

43.5/100
7.4/100

Visual Intelligence

56.0/100
24.6/100

Reasoning efficiency

How many reasoning tokens a model needs for the quality it delivers.

Single-step reasoning How much it reasons to understand a task

Multi-step reasoning How much it keeps reasoning as a task goes on

  • MAI-Thinking-1Single-step reasoning not measured

Cost efficiency

How much Performance you get for your money.

  • Crouton AlphaNot measured

Open or local

BENCHMARK BY BENCHMARK

Where each model leads

  • Crouton Alpha
  • MAI-Thinking-1
  • Other models
  • Median

DATASHEET

Specs and pricing

Crouton Alpha scores higher on StealthMark and runs 1.9× faster in our speed test.

  • Crouton Alpha
  • MAI-Thinking-1
  • Other models
  • Median
PricePer 1M output tokens, input below
Crouton Alpha: No list priceMAI-Thinking-1: $8$2 input
Context windowTokens per request, max output below
Crouton Alpha: Not publishedMAI-Thinking-1: 256K64K max outputEstimated
Output speedTokens per second, our measurement
Crouton Alpha: 1751.9× fastertokens/sMAI-Thinking-1: 93tokens/s
SizeTotal and active parameters
Crouton Alpha: Not disclosedMAI-Thinking-1: 1T35B activeEstimated
Developer
Not publishedMicrosoft AI
Released
Not published12 Aug 2026
Origin
Not publishedUnited States
Input → output
Not publishedText → text
Architecture
Not publishedSparse Mixture-of-Experts (MoE)

Full datasheets, every price and sourceMAI-Thinking-1 ↗

Anticipating threats and planning ahead. Collect coins while avoiding ghosts. Ghosts move before the player each turn, and collisions cost a life. 3 levels in sequence, up to 66 turns in total. Earlier moves and outcomes carry forward, testing learning across levels.

Crouton Alpha 32.3/100Rank 29/52

Survived 1 of 3
Foresight: complete playing field
Level 39 ptsTurn 20 / 20

MAI-Thinking-1 6.4/100Rank 49/52

Survived 0 of 3
Foresight: complete playing field
Level 31 ptsTurn 8 / 20

Points per level

LevelCrouton AlphaMAI-Thinking-1
Level 1Second Thoughts
3 ptsOut of lives
3 ptsOut of lives
Level 2Pressure Pot
7 ptsOut of lives
3 ptsOut of lives
Level 3Hide or Flight
9 ptsSurvived
1 ptsOut of lives

Cooperative planning and learning from experience. Coordinate two robots to push numbered cores onto matching sockets. Pressure plates hold doors open; moving either robot uses one turn. 5 levels in sequence, up to 152 turns in total. Earlier moves and outcomes carry forward, testing learning across levels.

Crouton Alpha 59.5/100Rank 24/53

Cleared 4 of 5
Latch: complete playing field
Level 520.2 ptsTurn 29 / 40

MAI-Thinking-1 3.6/100Rank 49/53

Cleared 1 of 5
Latch: complete playing field
Level 511.8 ptsTurn 16 / 40

Points per level

LevelCrouton AlphaMAI-Thinking-1
Level 1Hold the door
5.2 ptsCleared
5.2 ptsCleared
Level 2Crossfeed
9.4 ptsCleared
2 ptsOut of turns
Level 3Relay vault
11.2 ptsFinished early
2.2 ptsFinished early
Level 4Passing bay
18.2 ptsClearedFinished early · 3 beacons left
3 ptsFinished early
Level 5Second thoughts
20.2 ptsCleared
11.8 ptsFinished early

Newton's Mirror

Same task instructions

Physics, perspective and recursive reflections, tested together. Explore the test ↗

The judgment

Crouton Alpha

The artwork establishes approximate central placement, a separate airborne black blob, and basic wall and floor sphere images. Its defining weaknesses are the largely absent recursive reflection system, missing emitter mappings, satin steel appearance and unresolved paint interaction. The black lateral wedges do not establish a separate viewport, and the hidden floor contact does not establish a gap. The category values remain unchanged.

MAI-Thinking-1

The small paint features and convex shading deserve moderate material credit. The sphere remains undersized and low, with black unusually close to its apex. Crimson and cyan do not establish the required impact histories. Faint reflected echoes supply limited optical evidence, while the defining recursive room, nested sphere and emitter structures remain unestablished.

Score breakdown

CategoryCrouton AlphaMAI-Thinking-1
State at 600 ms19.0/253.0/25
Camera and placement11.0/152.5/15
Reflections21.5/1204.0/120
Materials and scale6.0/102.0/10
Floor-damage reward0.0/100.0/10

Benchmark task

A spinning metal sphere and paint in a mirrored room test physical reasoning, perspective and consistency across repeated reflections.

Selfie

Different task instructions

Visual construction and creative interpretation.

The judgment

Crouton Alpha

A cheerful, readable cartoon captures the crouton's signature expression and many specific accessories. Coherent cube geometry and foreground foreshortening support the selfie. Simple construction and flat material treatment limit its sophistication, while the tipping raft, advancing soup and unnoticed soaking remain insufficiently clear.

MAI-Thinking-1

A recognizable lantern-and-moth illustration with appealing coloured wings and tidy outer contours. Simple construction, a small focal subject and crowded overlaps limit character and depth. The face, six-leg anatomy, seedling and antenna-driven watering joke remain insufficiently readable.

Score breakdown

CategoryCrouton AlphaMAI-Thinking-1
Task & likeness6.5/104.0/10
Anatomy & construction5.5/104.5/10
Space & placement6.5/105.0/10
Light & reflections5.5/104.5/10
Purposeful detail7.0/104.0/10
Artistry & character5.0/105.0/10
Materials & effects5.5/105.0/10
Visual integrity7.5/106.0/10

Benchmark task

Crouton Alpha

Character scenes test expression, anatomy, materials and coherent visual construction.

MAI-Thinking-1

A fluffy moth tends a lantern greenhouse amid a gardening mishap. The scene tests insect anatomy, expressive action, translucent wings and the interaction of light with small objects.

Mona Lisa

Different task instructions

Precise visual recall and portrait reconstruction.

The judgment

Crouton Alpha

A recognizable, coherent simplification with readable eyes, a restrained smile and modest facial volume. Frontal symmetry, an oversized head, capsule-like hands and geometric scenery substantially limit likeness, anatomy and depth. Clean contours preserve basic integrity but do not establish sophisticated construction or finish.

MAI-Thinking-1

A recognizable Mona Lisa motif emerges from dark hair, a pale face and a landscape band. Replication remains weak: the oversized frontal head, broad smile, unresolved torso and missing crossed-hand anatomy diverge substantially from the reference. Simple fills and sparse strokes provide limited volume, material definition or painterly complexity.

Score breakdown

CategoryCrouton AlphaMAI-Thinking-1
Task & likeness4.5/101.0/10
Anatomy & construction4.0/100.5/10
Space & placement4.5/101.0/10
Light & reflections5.0/101.5/10
Purposeful detail4.0/101.0/10
Artistry & character4.5/101.5/10
Materials & effects4.0/100.5/10
Visual integrity6.0/103.0/10

Benchmark task

An SVG interpretation of the Mona Lisa tests facial likeness, anatomy and the composition of a familiar portrait.

Beach

Different task instructions

Creativity, perspective and visual beauty.

The judgment

Crouton Alpha

A colorful, readable sunset beach scene with playful subjects and a clear central reflection. Purposeful equipment and animal details reward inspection, and the principal attachments remain intact. Basic geometric anatomy, mixed viewpoints and sparse directional shadows limit its construction and depth; smooth gradients provide atmosphere with little material differentiation.

MAI-Thinking-1

A coherent, cheerful beach scene with balanced placement, clean shapes and controlled sunset colours. Animals, birds and playful accessories are recognizable, but basic dolphin construction, weak grounding, schematic reflections and sparse material detail limit the drawing's accomplishment.

Score breakdown

CategoryCrouton AlphaMAI-Thinking-1
Task & likeness8.5/106.0/10
Anatomy & construction5.0/104.0/10
Space & placement5.5/105.0/10
Light & reflections5.5/104.0/10
Purposeful detail7.0/104.5/10
Artistry & character5.0/104.0/10
Materials & effects5.5/103.5/10
Visual integrity7.0/104.5/10

Benchmark task

A busy shoreline at sunset tests scene composition, animal forms and the relationship between light and water reflections.

Ground Truth

Same task instructions

Physical reasoning, light and visual reconstruction.

The judgment

Crouton Alpha

This benchmark has not been assessed yet.

MAI-Thinking-1

This benchmark has not been assessed yet.

Benchmark task

A plank, computer mouse and blueberry in a steel room test physical stability, spatial relationships, materials and lighting.

Raccoon

Different task instructions

Scene composition and interacting subjects.

The judgment

Crouton Alpha

A readable cartoon with expressive faces, purposeful markings and clear water motion. Hull shading and an underside shadow establish modest depth. The dog contacts the controls, but the raccoon's frontal pose leaves its seated weight unresolved. Simple anatomy and limited shared perspective constrain the drawing.

MAI-Thinking-1

The recognizable raccoon and clean, shaded forms make a readable cartoon. The dog's steering remains undemonstrated, while ambiguous seating contacts and a minimally constructed craft weaken the central interaction. Controlled gradients and edges deserve credit, but anatomy, purposeful detail and water displacement remain basic.

Score breakdown

CategoryCrouton AlphaMAI-Thinking-1
Task & likeness7.0/103.0/10
Anatomy & construction5.0/102.0/10
Space & placement6.0/105.0/10
Light & reflections6.0/103.5/10
Purposeful detail6.5/103.0/10
Artistry & character5.0/102.5/10
Materials & effects5.5/103.5/10
Visual integrity6.0/105.5/10

Benchmark task

A jet-ski scene pairs a canine driver with a raccoon passenger. It tests the placement and contact of interacting subjects, along with vehicle construction.

Pelican

Different task instructions

Subject construction and spatial relationships.

The judgment

Crouton Alpha

A recognizable, expressive pelican cyclist with purposeful feather and bicycle detail. Readable steering reach, connected machinery and modest body shading earn additional credit. Jointless legs, uncertain pedal engagement and unclear seated support keep the central action only partially resolved; shallow space and simple materials further limit the illustration.

MAI-Thinking-1

A recognizable pelican and bicycle combine clean rounded forms, expressive facial details and effective surface shading. Aligned wheels and soft shadows establish placement, but unresolved pedal engagement, absent steering contact and sparse drivetrain construction weaken the riding action. Limited feather complexity and shallow space constrain an otherwise appealing illustration.

Score breakdown

CategoryCrouton AlphaMAI-Thinking-1
Task & likeness7.0/107.0/10
Anatomy & construction5.0/104.5/10
Space & placement5.5/105.5/10
Light & reflections5.5/107.0/10
Purposeful detail6.5/105.0/10
Artistry & character5.5/105.0/10
Materials & effects5.0/104.5/10
Visual integrity6.0/107.0/10

Benchmark task

A cycling pelican tests anatomy, riding posture and contact between the bird and the bicycle.