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Grok 4.20 Non-Reasoning

Text Generation • xAI • Proxied

xAI's Grok 4.20 non-reasoning model. Skips the thinking trace for fast, single-pass responses while keeping the same training as the reasoning variant.

Model Info
Context Window ↗2,000,000 tokens
Terms and Licenselink ↗
More informationlink ↗
PricingView pricing in the Cloudflare dashboard ↗

Usage

TypeScript
const response = await env.AI.run(
  'xai/grok-4.20-0309-non-reasoning',
  { messages: [{ content: 'What are the three laws of thermodynamics?', role: 'user' }] },
)
console.log(response)
 
**The Three Laws of Thermodynamics** (in their most common, concise form):

### **Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics** (often called the "zeroth" because it logically precedes the others)
> If two systems are each in thermal equilibrium with a third system, then they are in thermal equilibrium with each other.

This is the basis for the concept of **temperature** — it allows us to define a universal temperature scale.

### **First Law of Thermodynamics**
> Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only converted from one form to another.

Mathematically:  
**ΔU = Q − W**  
(where ΔU is the change in internal energy, Q is heat added to the system, and W is work done *by* the system)

This is essentially the **law of conservation of energy** applied to thermodynamic systems.

### **Second Law of Thermodynamics**
> The entropy of an isolated system always increases over time, or remains constant in ideal reversible processes. Heat flows spontaneously from hot to cold, never the reverse.

Common statements:
- "The entropy of the universe tends to a maximum."
- "It is impossible to construct a heat engine that is 100% efficient."

This law introduces the concept of **irreversibility** and the **arrow of time**.

---

### Bonus: The **Third Law of Thermodynamics** (Nernst Heat Theorem)
> As the temperature of a system approaches absolute zero (0 K), the entropy of a perfect crystal approaches a minimum (usually zero).

This implies it's impossible to reach absolute zero in a finite number of steps.

---

**Summary (popular phrasing):**
1. **Zeroth**: Temperature exists.
2. **First**: You can't win (energy is conserved).
3. **Second**: You can't break even (entropy always increases).
4. **Third**: You can't even quit the game (absolute zero is unreachable).

Examples

With System Message — Using a system message to set context
TypeScript
const response = await env.AI.run(
  'xai/grok-4.20-0309-non-reasoning',
  {
    messages: [
      { content: 'You are a helpful coding assistant specializing in Python.', role: 'system' },
      { content: 'How do I read a JSON file in Python?', role: 'user' },
    ],
  },
)
console.log(response)
 
**Reading a JSON file in Python** is very straightforward using the built-in `json` module.

### 1. Basic Method (Recommended)

```python
import json
from pathlib import Path

# Method 1: Using pathlib (modern and clean)
def read_json_file(file_path):
    with open(file_path, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as file:
        data = json.load(file)
    return data

# Usage
data = read_json_file('data.json')
print(data)
```

### 2. Most Common Patterns

```python
import json

# Option 1: Using pathlib (Recommended)
data = json.loads(Path('data.json').read_text(encoding='utf-8'))

# Option 2: Traditional way
with open('data.json', 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f:
    data = json.load(f)

# Option 3: One-liner
data = json.load(open('data.json', encoding='utf-8'))
```

### 3. Complete Example with Error Handling

```python
import json
from pathlib import Path
from typing import Any

def read_json(file_path: str | Path) -> Any:
    """Safely read a JSON file with proper error handling."""
    try:
        path = Path(file_path)
        with open(path, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as file:
            return json.load(file)
            
    except FileNotFoundError:
        print(f"Error: File '{file_path}' not found.")
        return None
    except json.JSONDecodeError as e:
        print(f"Error: Invalid JSON in '{file_path}': {e}")
        return None
    except Exception as e:
        print(f"Unexpected error reading '{file_path}': {e}")
        return None


# Usage examples:
data = read_json('config.json')
data = read_json(Path('data/settings.json'))

# Access the data
if data:
    print(data.get('name'))
    print(data['users'][0]['email'])
```

### Key Points:

- Use `json.load()` when reading from a **file object**
- Use `json.loads()` when reading from a **string**
- Always specify `encoding='utf-8'` (best practice)
- Use `pathlib.Path` for modern Python code
- Always handle potential `JSONDecodeError` and `FileNotFoundError`

Would you like to see how to also **write** JSON files or work with specific JSON structures (like configurations, lists of objects, etc.)?
Multi-turn Conversation — Continuing a conversation with context
TypeScript
const response = await env.AI.run(
  'xai/grok-4.20-0309-non-reasoning',
  {
    max_completion_tokens: 8192,
    messages: [
      {
        content: 'I need help planning a road trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles.',
        role: 'user',
      },
      {
        content:
          "I'd be happy to help! The drive is about 380 miles and takes roughly 5-6 hours. Would you like suggestions for scenic routes or interesting stops along the way?",
        role: 'assistant',
      },
      { content: 'Yes, what are some good places to stop?', role: 'user' },
    ],
  },
)
console.log(response)
 
Here are some excellent stops along (or just off) the main routes from San Francisco to Los Angeles. I’ve grouped them roughly in north-to-south order so you can slot them into your itinerary easily.

### Classic Coastal Route (Highway 1 / Pacific Coast Highway)
This is the most scenic option and the one most people picture when they say “road trip from SF to LA.”

1. **Half Moon Bay** (≈ 30 min south of SF)  
   - Cute coastal town with beaches, tide pools, and the famous “Pumpkin Festival” in October. Great for a quick coffee or beach walk.

2. **Pescadero & Año Nuevo State Park** (≈ 1 hr from SF)  
   - Stop at **Duarte’s Tavern** for artichoke soup and pie. Año Nuevo has elephant seals (best Dec–March).

3. **Santa Cruz** (≈ 1.5 hrs from SF)  
   - Beach Boardwalk, redwood hikes in Henry Cowell Redwoods, or the famous surf at Pleasure Point. Good food scene.

4. **Monterey & Pacific Grove** (≈ 2 hrs from SF)  
   - Cannery Row, Monterey Bay Aquarium (book ahead), 17-Mile Drive, and the monarch butterfly sanctuary in Pacific Grove (Oct–Feb).

5. **Big Sur** (≈ 3–4 hrs from SF – the heart of the drive)  
   - **Bixby Bridge** photo stop  
   - **Point Sur Lighthouse** (tours available)  
   - **Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park** – McWay Falls (waterfall onto the beach)  
   - **Pfeiffer Beach** – purple sand and keyhole rock  
   - **Nepenthe** or **Big Sur Bakery** for lunch with a view  
   - **Ventana Big Sur** or **Post Ranch Inn** if you want an upscale overnight.

6. **Cambria / Hearst Castle** (≈ 5–6 hrs from SF)  
   - Tour the famous Hearst Castle (reservations required).  
   - Moonstone Beach boardwalk for sunset.

7. **San Luis Obispo (SLO)** (≈ 6.5 hrs from SF)  
   - Bubblegum Alley, great farm-to-table food, and a lively downtown.

8. **Pismo Beach**  
   - Classic California beach town with sand dunes you can drive on (ATV tours available).

9. **Solvang** (short detour)  
   - Danish-themed village with windmills, bakeries, and Æbleskiver pancakes. Fun for 1–2 hours.

10. **Santa Barbara** (≈ 8–9 hrs from SF if you linger)  
    - “American Riviera.” State Street for shopping, Mission Santa Barbara, beaches, and wine tasting in the Funk Zone.

11. **Malibu** (final stretch before LA)  
    - Point Dume, El Matador Beach, or a sunset dinner at Malibu Pier.

### Inland / Faster Route Highlights (I-5 corridor)
If you’re short on time but still want stops:

- **Gilroy** – “Garlic Capital of the World” (garlic ice cream if you’re brave).
- **Pacheco Pass** → **San Luis Reservoir** for dramatic views.
- **Harris Ranch** – iconic Central Valley steakhouse stop.
- **Bakersfield** – for Basque food or country-music vibes.
- **Tejon Pass / Magic Mountain** – quick amusement-park option.

### Suggested Itineraries

**Scenic 2-Day Trip (most popular)**  
Day 1: SF → Big Sur (overnight in Big Sur or Cambria)  
Day 2: Big Sur → Santa Barbara → LA

**3-Day Leisure Trip**  
Day 1: SF → Monterey / Carmel (overnight)  
Day 2: Monterey → Cambria / Hearst Castle → SLO (overnight)  
Day 3: SLO → Santa Barbara → Malibu → LA

Would you like me to:
- Build a day-by-day itinerary with driving times and restaurant recommendations?
- Focus on specific interests (hiking, food, photography, wine, budget, luxury, etc.)?
- Include where to stay or current road conditions / permit info for Big Sur?

Just let me know your preferences (how many days, budget level, must-see activities, etc.) and I’ll tailor it further!
Creative Writing — Longer completion for creative output
TypeScript
const response = await env.AI.run(
  'xai/grok-4.20-0309-non-reasoning',
  {
    max_completion_tokens: 8192,
    messages: [
      {
        content: 'Write a short story opening about a detective finding an unusual clue.',
        role: 'user',
      },
    ],
  },
)
console.log(response)
 
The rain-slicked alley behind the old theater smelled of rotting velvet and gunpowder. Detective Elias Crowe knelt beside the body, his flashlight beam cutting through the downpour, and paused.

There, clutched in the dead man’s rigid fingers, was a single playing card: the Queen of Hearts. That wasn’t unusual in itself. What stopped Crowe cold was that the card was warm, almost hot, as though it had just come off a printing press. And when he turned it over, the back wasn’t patterned with the usual bicycles or fleurs-de-lis.

It was a tiny, perfectly detailed photograph of the crime scene itself, taken from an angle that should have been impossible—directly above the body, as if the card had been watching the murder happen.
Streaming Response — Enable streaming for real-time output
TypeScript
const response = await env.AI.run(
  'xai/grok-4.20-0309-non-reasoning',
  {
    messages: [{ content: 'Explain the concept of recursion with a simple example.', role: 'user' }],
    stream: true,
    stream_options: { include_usage: true },
  },
)
console.log(response)
 
**Recursion** is a programming concept where a function **calls itself** to solve a smaller version of the same problem.

It's like solving a big problem by repeatedly breaking it down into smaller, identical problems until you reach a simple case that can be solved directly.

---

### Simple Example: Factorial

The **factorial** of a number `n` (written as `n!`) is:
- `5! = 5 × 4 × 3 × 2 × 1 = 120`

We can define factorial recursively:

### Recursive Definition:
- `factorial(n) = n × factorial(n-1)`    ← recursive case
- `factorial(0) = 1`                     ← **base case** (stops the recursion)

---

### Code Example (Python):

```python
def factorial(n):
    # Base case: stop recursion
    if n == 0 or n == 1:
        return 1
    # Recursive case: call itself with a smaller number
    else:
        return n * factorial(n - 1)


# Test it
print(factorial(5))   # Output: 120
```

---

### How it works step by step:

When you call `factorial(5)`:

```
factorial(5) = 5 × factorial(4)
             = 5 × (4 × factorial(3))
             = 5 × (4 × (3 × factorial(2)))
             = 5 × (4 × (3 × (2 × factorial(1))))
             = 5 × (4 × (3 × (2 × 1)))     ← base case reached
             = 120
```

Each recursive call creates a new "layer" until it hits the base case, then it starts returning values back up the chain.

---

### Key Parts of Recursion:
1. **Base Case** – The simplest case that can be solved directly (stops infinite recursion).
2. **Recursive Case** – The function calls itself with a simpler/smaller input.

---

Would you like me to also show a visual example using a stack or another common recursive example like counting down or summing numbers?

Parameters

deferred
boolean | null
frequency_penalty
number | null
logprobs
boolean | null
max_completion_tokens
integer | null
max_tokens
integer | null
n
integer | null
parallel_tool_calls
boolean | null
presence_penalty
number | null
reasoning_effort
string | null
seed
integer | null
stop
array | null
stream
boolean | null
temperature
number | null
tools
array | null
top_logprobs
integer | null
top_p
number | null
user
string | null

API Schemas (Raw)

Input
Output