Groq
llama-3.1-8b-instant model retirement
Stopped workingSubscribe to GroqShare
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 you get
What Groq answers a call to llama-3.1-8b-instant once the model is gone, as recorded from real responses:
{"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 of llama-3.1-8b-instant
Move to openai/gpt-oss-20b, which is the replacement model recommended by Groq.
In Groq's words
Deprecated Model: llama-3.1-8b-instant; Shutdown Date: 08/16/26; Recommended Replacement Model ID: openai/gpt-oss-20b
Facts
- 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
- Who it affects
- free and developer tiers
- Source
- Deprecations page
- Last updated
- Verified
- , against Groq's own pages
Questions
When does llama-3.1-8b-instant shut down?
Calls to the model llama-3.1-8b-instant on Groq stopped working on August 16, 2026.
What happens to calls after August 16, 2026?
They have failed since August 16, 2026.
What error does llama-3.1-8b-instant return once it is shut down?
Groq answers HTTP 404: "The model `llama-3.1-8b-instant` does not exist or you do not have access to it.". Send another model to fix it.
When was llama-3.1-8b-instant released?
llama-3.1-8b-instant was released on July 23, 2024, according to models.dev.
How do I find the calls this hits in my code?
Okapi reads your repository, finds the calls this change hits and opens a pull request with the fix. It never commits to your branches: every change comes as a pull request you review.
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You fixed this one by hand.
Okapi opens the pull request with the fix before the next breaking change reaches your code.