The ChatGPT versions of O1 models and what the API will offer are not equivalent.
ChatGPT Plus users were switched to an “O1”-named model that underperforms the previous “preview” version that was available, now gone.
ChatGPT Pro gives an “O1 Pro” that OpenAI has stated is different than any API “O1”. - regardless of “reasoning_effort” used with the API “O1” model.
API users will have " o1-preview-2024-09-12" still, along with " o1-mini-2024-09-12". It has very limited input parameters. The quality of past documentation is degraded, replaced by o1 usage.
“o1” also will have just a subset of parameters supported. It does add vision for image input.
“o1”, though, is deployed to a very limited subset of tier-5 users, a slow rollout to the $1000+ paid club. (I’m still sitting here with no tier-5 access).
The Assistants API implies use of tools. No tool support = no Assistants support.
So you are correct. API developers are not treated equally. Many ChatGPT features, even a “continue” button, or editing a DALL-E image, cannot be replicated on the API.