# llama-3.1-8b-instant

Calls to the model llama-3.1-8b-instant on Groq stopped working on August 16, 2026.

On August 16, 2026, the model llama-3.1-8b-instant was retired for free and developer tiers. Requests to this model fail since that date. The change affects all callers using this model identifier on those tiers.

## The error Groq returns once llama-3.1-8b-instant is gone

HTTP 404

```json
{"error":{"message":"The model `llama-3.1-8b-instant` does not exist or you do not have access to it.","type":"invalid_request_error","code":"model_not_found"}}
```

## What to use instead

Move to openai/gpt-oss-20b, which is the replacement model recommended by Groq.

- API: Groq (api.groq.com)
- Model: llama-3.1-8b-instant
- Released: July 23, 2024 (models.dev)
- Kind: Model retirement
- Takes effect: August 16, 2026
- Calls after that day: fail
- Calls it hits: `model llama-3.1-8b-instant`
- Who it affects: free and developer tiers
- Source: [Deprecations page](https://console.groq.com/docs/deprecations)
- Verified: November 6, 2026, against Groq's own pages
- Page: https://www.okapi.bot/models/groq/llama-3.1-8b-instant/

## Groq's words

> Deprecated Model: llama-3.1-8b-instant; Shutdown Date: 08/16/26; Recommended Replacement Model ID: openai/gpt-oss-20b

Okapi finds the calls this change hits in your repo and opens the pull request with the fix: https://github.com/apps/okapi-agent