STEALTHMARK · HEAD TO HEAD

All comparisons ↗

Inkling-Small vs MAI-Thinking-1

Inkling-Small leads MAI-Thinking-1 by 13.5 points on StealthMark, 27.6 to 14.1. It leads on 6 of 9 benchmarks, including both games, and MAI-Thinking-1 on 3. Inkling-Small scores higher on Ground Truth.

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All results ↗
All results ↗

Overall StealthMark

27.6/100Overall rank 43/53
14.1/100Overall rank 51/53

General Intelligence

25.5/100
7.4/100

Visual Intelligence

31.1/100
24.6/100

Reasoning efficiency

On every task, result quality and reasoning tokens are each compared with all measured models and weighed equally. Each dot is one model.

Single-step reasoning Result quality weighed against reasoning tokens on a single problem

Multi-step reasoning Result quality weighed against reasoning tokens across connected steps, as in agentic workflows

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

Open or local

Open modelApache 2.0

BENCHMARK BY BENCHMARK

Where each model leads

  • Inkling-Small
  • MAI-Thinking-1
  • Other models
  • Median

DATASHEET

Specs and pricing

Inkling-Small scores higher on StealthMark and takes 4.1× more context.

  • Inkling-Small
  • MAI-Thinking-1
  • Other models
  • Median
PricePer 1M output tokens, input below
Inkling-Small: No list priceMAI-Thinking-1: $8$2 input
Context windowTokens per request, max output below
Inkling-Small: 1M4.1× largerMAI-Thinking-1: 256K64K max outputEstimated
Output speedTokens per second, our measurement
Inkling-Small: Not measuredMAI-Thinking-1: 93tokens/s
SizeTotal and active parameters
Inkling-Small: 276B12B activeMAI-Thinking-1: 1T35B activeEstimated
Developer
Thinking Machines LabMicrosoft AI
Released
Not published12 Aug 2026
Origin
Not publishedUnited States
Input → output
Text, image, audio → textText → text
Architecture
42-layer decoder-only transformer with sparse mixture-of-experts feed-forward (6 of 256 routed experts plus 2 shared per token); hybrid local and global attention; natively multimodal with a hierarchical patch image encoder and discrete-token audioSparse Mixture-of-Experts (MoE)

Full datasheets, every price and sourceInkling-Small ↗MAI-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.

Inkling-Small 30.2/100Rank 29/49

Survived 0 of 3
Foresight: complete playing field
Level 38 ptsTurn 17 / 20

MAI-Thinking-1 6.4/100Rank 46/49

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

Points per level

LevelInkling-SmallMAI-Thinking-1
Level 1Second Thoughts
9 ptsOut of lives
3 ptsOut of lives
Level 2Pressure Pot
6 ptsOut of lives
3 ptsOut of lives
Level 3Hide or Flight
8 ptsOut of lives
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.

Inkling-Small 34.7/100Rank 34/50

Cleared 3 of 5
Latch: complete playing field
Level 518 ptsTurn 40 / 40

MAI-Thinking-1 3.6/100Rank 46/50

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

Points per level

LevelInkling-SmallMAI-Thinking-1
Level 1Hold the door
5.2 ptsCleared
5.2 ptsCleared
Level 2Crossfeed
9.8 ptsCleared
2 ptsOut of turns
Level 3Relay vault
2.8 ptsFinished early
2.2 ptsFinished early
Level 4Passing bay
8 ptsFinished early
3 ptsFinished early
Level 5Second thoughts
18 ptsCleared
11.8 ptsFinished early

Newton's Mirror

Same task instructions

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

The judgment

Inkling-Small

The sphere's apparent floor support, separate dark feature and broad paint ordering justify partial state credit. The major weakness is the largely missing mirror system: isolated side images and faint floor echoes do not establish repeated virtual rooms or curved spherical mapping. Downward framing, the oversized frontal panel, unresolved paint transport and satin surface appearance remain distinct limitations.

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

CategoryInkling-SmallMAI-Thinking-1
State at 600 ms14.0/253.0/25
Camera and placement3.0/152.5/15
Reflections8.0/1204.0/120
Materials and scale2.5/102.0/10
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

Inkling-Small

The faces and dripping caps communicate a cute mushroom scene, but simple construction and weak spatial relationships limit the result. The defining foot-stamping action is unresolved, the flattering portrait is smaller than its painter, and the requested material contrasts are only partly conveyed.

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

CategoryInkling-SmallMAI-Thinking-1
Task & likeness2.5/104.0/10
Anatomy & construction1.5/104.5/10
Space & placement3.5/105.0/10
Light & reflections3.0/104.5/10
Purposeful detail4.5/104.0/10
Artistry & character3.0/105.0/10
Materials & effects3.5/105.0/10
Visual integrity2.0/106.0/10

Benchmark task

Inkling-Small

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

Inkling-Small

A recognizable but rudimentary Mona Lisa interpretation. Facial shading and subdued colors provide coherence, while the frontal blocklike torso, unresolved wrists, fingerless hands and shallow landscape substantially limit likeness, construction and 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

CategoryInkling-SmallMAI-Thinking-1
Task & likeness2.5/101.0/10
Anatomy & construction2.5/100.5/10
Space & placement3.0/101.0/10
Light & reflections2.5/101.5/10
Purposeful detail2.0/101.0/10
Artistry & character2.5/101.5/10
Materials & effects2.0/100.5/10
Visual integrity3.0/103.0/10

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

Inkling-Small

A recognizable sunset beach with a clear focal sun and appealing color transitions. Connected fish silhouettes and layered scenery establish basic coherence. Primitive figures, ambiguous recreation, sparse descriptive detail and weak grounding limit construction and depth. The aligned reflection supplies a useful lighting cue, but shadows and material effects remain underdeveloped.

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

CategoryInkling-SmallMAI-Thinking-1
Task & likeness3.5/106.0/10
Anatomy & construction3.0/104.0/10
Space & placement3.0/105.0/10
Light & reflections3.0/104.0/10
Purposeful detail3.0/104.5/10
Artistry & character3.0/104.0/10
Materials & effects2.5/103.5/10
Visual integrity2.0/104.5/10

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

Inkling-Small

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

Inkling-Small

Recognizable animals, readable accessories and an appealing sunset support a coherent basic cartoon. Rounded construction leaves joints, riding support and steering unresolved. Decorative gradients contribute atmosphere, but directional lighting, distinct materials and convincing water displacement are weakly demonstrated.

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

CategoryInkling-SmallMAI-Thinking-1
Task & likeness4.0/103.0/10
Anatomy & construction3.0/102.0/10
Space & placement4.0/105.0/10
Light & reflections5.0/103.5/10
Purposeful detail5.5/103.0/10
Artistry & character4.0/102.5/10
Materials & effects5.0/103.5/10
Visual integrity5.0/105.5/10

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

Inkling-Small

The pelican is immediately recognizable, and its sweeping neck, shaped bill and orderly spokes provide character. Riding remains only partially realized: legs, pedal engagement, steering and seat support cannot be read confidently. Controlled graphic effects add atmosphere, but simplified construction and weak grounding keep the result basic.

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

CategoryInkling-SmallMAI-Thinking-1
Task & likeness4.0/107.0/10
Anatomy & construction3.0/104.5/10
Space & placement3.0/105.5/10
Light & reflections3.0/107.0/10
Purposeful detail4.5/105.0/10
Artistry & character5.0/105.0/10
Materials & effects4.5/104.5/10
Visual integrity3.0/107.0/10

Benchmark task

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