01What is Solar Mini 4 and how it works

Solar Mini 4 is a free AI model from Upstage that you can use inside Hermes Agent right now. It works like an AI agent that can research news, answer questions, and handle basic tasks quickly. The model runs on Hermes Cloud or through Hermes Desktop, and you can access it without paying.

In this episode, Julian Goldie shows how Solar Mini 4 responds very fast to prompts like 'research the latest AI automation news from the last 7 days.' It returns a breakdown of sources and key points, similar to what you'd get from a paid assistant but at no cost. The model is not frontier-level, so it can't handle complex reasoning like Claude Opus 5, but for everyday research it's solid.

02Main features of Solar Mini 4 in Hermes

Solar Mini 4 comes with several useful features inside Hermes Agent. First, it is completely free for a limited time, so you can use it without worrying about charges. Second, it is very fast, as Julian demonstrates with instant replies to research questions.

  • Works with Hermes Cloud, Hermes Desktop, and Agent OS
  • Can be set as the main model in your dashboard
  • Handles basic agentic tasks like news research and summaries
  • Accessible through the 'free' model list in Hermes
  • Can be swapped out for other free models anytime

You can also create a separate profile for Solar Mini 4 to switch between models easily. This makes testing and comparing models simple.

03How to set up Solar Mini 4 in Hermes Desktop

Setting up Solar Mini 4 in Hermes Desktop takes only a few clicks. Julian walks through the steps in the episode, and it's straightforward even for beginners.

  1. Open Hermes Desktop and click 'Create New Profile.'
  2. Name the profile 'Solar Mini 4' or any name you prefer.
  3. Click 'Create Profile' to add it.
  4. Refresh the model list to see all available free models.
  5. Edit the profile and select 'Solar Mini 4' from the list.
  6. Make sure you choose 'Mini 4 Free' and not the paid version.
  7. Start chatting with the model to test it.

Julian recommends having a different profile for each model, so you can switch between them without changing settings. This is especially helpful if you test multiple models regularly.

04How to use Solar Mini 4 for research and tasks

Once Solar Mini 4 is set up, you can use it for various tasks. In the episode, Julian asks it to research the latest AI automation news from the past seven days. The model responds quickly with a summary, including sources and highlights.

You can also add the profile to Agent OS to chat with Hermes directly. In your dashboard, go to 'Set Main Model' and type 'Solo' or 'Solar' to find Solar Mini 4. Choose 'Mini 4 Free' from the News Portal options.

Then you can run the dashboard from the terminal by typing 'Hermes dashboard' if you don't have the Agent OS.

For tasks, Solar Mini 4 handles basic agentic work like:

  • Researching topics
  • Summarizing news
  • Answering simple questions
  • Breaking down sources
It's not for deep or complex reasoning, but for daily automation it's a good free option.

05Results and speed tests of Solar Mini 4

Julian tests Solar Mini 4 by posting a research query about AI automation news from the last seven days. The model replies quickly with a list of news items, including Oracle's 'Fusion Glore' (a typo in the transcript). It also breaks down the news and highlights what stands out.

The response is compared to paid models like Claude Opus 5.5, and Solar Mini 4 is not at that level, but for a free model it is surprisingly fast and useful. Julian notes that some users complain about slow agent responses, but Solar Mini 4 is notably quick in his testing.

The episode shows that you can rely on this model for basic research tasks without waiting long. However, you might get rate limited at times, but you can refresh the model list or switch to another free model when that happens.

06Tips, limits and mistakes to avoid

One key tip from the episode: always select 'Mini 4 Free' when setting up, not the paid version. If you pick the wrong one, you could be charged by accident. Julian stresses this because it's easy to overlook.

Another limit is rate limiting. Free models often have token limits, so you might run out or get blocked temporarily. When that happens, just refresh the model list or switch to another free model like 'Ling 3.1 Flash' or 'Matron Longcat 2.0.'

  • Pick 'Mini 4 Free' to avoid costs.
  • Refresh model list if you don't see Solar Mini 4.
  • Expect occasional rate limits.
  • Don't use it for complex or frontier-level tasks.
  • Create separate profiles for each model to test easily.

These small steps help you get the most out of the free model without surprises.

07Who is Solar Mini 4 for and why it matters

Solar Mini 4 is for anyone who wants to use AI agents for free, especially beginners or those testing automation. It matters because it gives you access to a capable model without spending money, which is great for learning or small projects.

Julian points out that while it's not frontier-level, it handles basic tasks well. That makes it ideal for news research, simple summaries, and everyday automation. The fact that it's free for a limited time means you should grab it now before the window closes.

In the episode, Julian also mentions other free models like Matron, Poolside, and Ling, so you have options. This flexibility lets you switch between models as needed. For a hobbyist or a professional testing ideas, Solar Mini 4 is a great starting point.