GPT-5 Launch Sparks User Backlash and Raises Questions About AI Progress
61 Sources
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ChatGPT users hate GPT-5's "overworked secretary" energy, miss their GPT-4o buddy
After months of hype and anticipation, OpenAI released its new GPT-5 model family this week. Promising massive upgrades across the board, the company is already working to roll out the new AI to everyone. Some dedicated ChatGPT users wish it would stop, though. After becoming accustomed to the vibe
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The GPT-5 rollout has been a big mess
It's been less than a week since the launch of OpenAI's new GPT-5 AI model, and the rollout hasn't been a smooth one. So far, the release sparked one of the most intense user revolts in ChatGPT's history, forcing CEO Sam Altman to make an unusual public apology and reverse key decisions. At the
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What you may have missed about GPT-5
As tech giants converge on models that do more or less the same thing, OpenAI's new offering was supposed to give a glimpse of AI's newest frontier. It was meant to mark a leap toward the "artificial general intelligence" that tech's evangelists have promised will transform humanity for the
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OpenAI Scrambles to Update GPT-5 After Users Revolt
GPT-5 was touted as a major upgrade to ChatGPT. Not all users think that's the case, posting threads like "Kill 4o isn't innovation, it's erasure," on Reddit. OpenAI's GPT-5 model was meant to be a world-changing upgrade to its wildly popular and precocious chatbot. But for some users, last
[5]
GPT-5's modest gains suggest AI progress is slowing down
OpenAI's latest large language model has achieved seemingly underwhelming improvements in performance, leading to questions about whether the AI industry can make significant advancements with its current designs AI's latest step forward isn't so much a giant leap as a tentative shuffle. OpenAI
[6]
ChatGPT's New GPT-5 Model Is Supposed to Be Faster and Smarter. Not Everyone Is Satisfied
Expertise Artificial intelligence, home energy, heating and cooling, home technology. ChatGPT's long-awaited new engine is here, and GPT-5 promises faster speeds and more time spent thinking. But the new generative AI model has turned off some users with a tone shift away from its casual,
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Here are all the GPT-5 updates OpenAI has rolled out since launch
OpenAI released its long-awaited GPT-5 on Thursday.Some users complained GPT-5 was inferior to its predecessor, 4o.In response, the company announced a flurry of changes. OpenAI released GPT-5, the long-awaited upgrade to the model which powers ChatGPT, Thursday. In typical OpenAI fashion, the
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GPT-5 failed the hype test
Last week, on GPT-5 launch day, AI hype was at an all-time high. In a press briefing beforehand, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said GPT-5 is "something that I just don't wanna ever have to go back from," a milestone akin to the first iPhone with a Retina display. The night before the announcement
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A year after Altman said superintelligence was imminent, GPT-5 is all we get?
Botched rollout of GPT-5 doesn't suggest superintelligence.GPT-5 represents incremental technical progress.Scholars are debunking AI hype with detailed analyses. Nearly a year ago, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman declared artificial "superintelligence" was "just around the corner." Also: Sam Altman says
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Why GPT-5's rocky rollout is the reality check we needed on superintelligence hype
Nearly a year ago, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman declared artificial "superintelligence" was "just around the corner." Also: Sam Altman says the Singularity is imminent - here's why Then, last June, he trumpeted the arrival of superintelligence, writing in a blog post: "We have recently built systems
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OpenAI Faces Backlash for Retiring Older Models With GPT-5 Launch
OpenAI's newest model, GPT-5, is here, promising better performance. But in a twist, the rollout has sparked fierce backlash because OpenAI is also retiring its older AI models, which some users have grown to love. On Reddit's forum devoted to ChatGPT, some users are even canceling their paid
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You Can Still Use ChatGPT's Older Models -- But It'll Cost You $20
Earlier this week, we saw the roll-out of GPT-5, the latest and supposedly greatest edition of OpenAI's flagship tool, with CEO Sam Altman claiming it offered "legitimate PhD-level" expertise in every field. But one gripe that has been impacting users is that, since the worldwide roll-out, the
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ChatGPT users revolt over GPT-5 release -- OpenAI battles claims that the new model's accuracy and abilities fall short
OpenAI has capitulated and reinstated older models, and promised not to kill them off again in the future. OpenAI made a controversial move at the end of last week by replacing all of its older GPT-4 models with a single GPT-5 model, which it claimed was more accurate, more capable, and faster
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Is GPT-5 Any Better Than GPT-4o? Not Based on My Tests
If you're underwhelmed by GPT-5, you're not alone. The backlash was strong enough that OpenAI revived GPT-4o for those on Plus and Pro plans, and CEO Sam Altman acknowledged that people's affection for the older model "feels different and stronger than the kinds of attachment people have had to
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GPT-5: has AI just plateaued?
The University of Edinburgh provides funding as a member of The Conversation UK. OpenAI claims that its new flagship model, GPT-5, marks "a significant step along the path to AGI" - that is, the artificial general intelligence that AI bosses and self-proclaimed experts often claim is around the
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'Deprecating old models' you depend on a 'mistake': Altman
Tech biz tweaks GPT-5, brings back 4 and others as options after customer backlash OpenAI has brought back GPT-4o after a weekend of user protests - mostly about removal of model choice - following the rollout of GPT-5. GPT-5 made its debut at the end of last week, with OpenAI making much of its
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OpenAI's GPT-5 is a cost cutting exercise
Comment For all the superlative-laden claims, OpenAI's new top model appears to be less of an advancement and more of a way to save compute costs -- something that hasn't exactly gone over well with the company's most dedicated users. As the flag bearer that kicked off the generative AI era,
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OpenAI brings GPT-4o back online after users melt down over the new model
Following the rollout of OpenAI's latest GPT-5 model earlier this week, a certain user base was adamantly calling for the return of the previous GPT-4o model. Outspoken users complained about the writing quality of the updated model, with some even going so far as to grieve the loss of GPT-4o,
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GPT-5's rollout fell flat for consumers, but the AI model is gaining where it matters most
Now, three years later, he's chasing where the real money is: Enterprise. Last week's rollout of GPT-5, OpenAI's newest artificial intelligence model, was rocky. Critics bashed its less-intuitive feel, ultimately leading the company to restore its legacy GPT-4 to paying chatbot customers. But
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What If A.I. Doesn't Get Much Better Than This?
For this week's Open Questions column, Cal Newport is filling in for Joshua Rothman. Much of the euphoria and dread swirling around today's artificial-intelligence technologies can be traced back to January, 2020, when a team of researchers at OpenAI published a thirty-page report titled "Scaling
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It Took Just 24 Hours of Complaints for OpenAI to Start Bringing Back Its Old Model
OpenAI unveiled its latest generative AI model, GPT-5, on Thursday. CEO Sam Altman says that ChatGPT is now like having a "superpower" and the equivalent of "a legitimate PhD-level expert in anything, any area you need, on demand, that can help you with whatever your goals are.†But after a day of
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OpenAI Brings Back Fan-Favorite GPT-4o After a Massive User Revolt
The move is a stunning reversal, proving that even the most powerful AI company can't ignore a mutiny from its loyal user base. After a disastrous 72 hours that saw its most loyal users in open revolt, OpenAI is making a major U-turn. In a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter) Sunday, CEO Sam
[23]
OpenAI restores GPT-4o after users say GPT-5 feels 'dumber'
OpenAI launched its highly anticipated AI model, GPT-5, earlier this week, hailing it as its most powerful model yet. However, CEO Sam Altman has now confirmed the launch was anything but smooth, causing a wide outcry amongst its users for bringing back the GPT-4o model. During a Reddit Ask Me
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ChatGPT-5 users are not impressed -- here's why it 'feels like a downgrade'
OpenAI had the internet's attention when it announced GPT-5. Some users have taken to social platforms like Reddit to complain that the new model isn't where it should be -- and you can't even go back to the old ones if you don't like the latest release. When you go to ChatGPT as a Plus user,
[25]
ChatGPT-4o is coming back after massive GPT-5 backlash -- here's what happened
After months of anticipation and a delayed rollout, GPT-5 finally landed for ChatGPT users; but less than 24 hours later, OpenAI is already reversing course. The company had fully swapped out GPT-4o for its new flagship model, leaving users with no way to switch back once they logged in. But
[26]
OpenAI's Sam Altman brings back GPT-4o and boosts GPT-5 limits -- but there's a catch
After a rocky GPT-5 debut, OpenAI is restoring choice and lifting limits OpenAI's highly anticipated GPT-5 rollout didn't go quite as planned. Just days after making the new model the default for all users, the company is making significant changes in response to an uproar from paying customers;
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ChatGPT fans are shredding GPT-5 on Reddit as Sam Altman preps for AMA
The early reviews for GPT-5 are in, and they're not good. Credit: Ian Moore / Mashable Composite; Open AI Many ChatGPT fans have taken to Reddit and other social media platforms to express their frustration and disappointment with OpenAI's newest foundation model, released on Thursday. A quick
[28]
ChatGPT users are not happy with GPT-5 launch as thousands take to Reddit claiming the new upgrade 'is horrible'
ChatGPT Plus subscribers now have limits to how often they can access reasoning models, and have lost access to the older more reliable ones like o4-mini and o4-mini-high OpenAI just released GPT-5, the next generation of the company's AI model that will power ChatGPT for the foreseeable
[29]
OpenAI's GPT-5 rollout is not going smoothly
Want smarter insights in your inbox? Sign up for our weekly newsletters to get only what matters to enterprise AI, data, and security leaders. Subscribe Now The launch of OpenAI's long anticipated new model, GPT-5, is off to a rocky start to say the least. Even forgiving errors in charts and
[30]
OpenAI returns old models to ChatGPT as Sam Altman admits 'bumpy' GPT-5 rollout
Want smarter insights in your inbox? Sign up for our weekly newsletters to get only what matters to enterprise AI, data, and security leaders. Subscribe Now OpenAI co-founder and CEO Sam Altman is publicly acknowledging major hiccups in yesterday's rollout of GPT-5, the company's new, flagship
[31]
So many ChatGPT users have said they're missing the older GPT-4o model, OpenAI is going to bring it back
When OpenAI rolled out its shiny new GPT-5 model for ChatGPT earlier this week, the plan was to have it replace all of the older models for both free and paying users - but now GPT-4o is being brought back in response to a significant number of user complaints. "We for sure underestimated how much
[32]
OpenAI's GPT-5 launch hits bumps
Why it matters: A lot rides on every launch of a major new large language model, since training these programs is a massive endeavor that can require months or years and billions of dollars. Driving the news: When OpenAI released GPT-5 last week, CEO Sam Altman promised the new model would give
[33]
ChatGPT users are still fuming about GPT-5's downgrades - here are the 4 biggest complaints
OpenAI's debut of GPT-5 came with many promises of a smarter, more effective AI platform capable of fulfilling many of the dreams of AI enthusiasts. The company was so confident in GPT-5 that it became the default model for ChatGPT, while the previous flagship GPT-4o model was removed from the AI
[34]
Gartner: GPT-5 is here, but the infrastructure to support true agentic AI isn't (yet)
Want smarter insights in your inbox? Sign up for our weekly newsletters to get only what matters to enterprise AI, data, and security leaders. Subscribe Now Here's an analogy: Freeways didn't exist in the U.S. until after 1956, when envisioned by President Dwight D. Eisenhower's administration --
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Why GPT-5's most controversial feature - the model router - might also be the future of AI
OpenAI's GPT-5 announcement last week was meant to be a triumph -- proof that the company was still the undisputed leader in AI -- until it wasn't. Over the weekend, a groundswell of pushback from customers turned the rollout into more than a PR firestorm: it became a product and trust crisis.
[36]
GPT-4o is back on ChatGPT; OpenAI relents following huge backlash
Deletion of older models forces radical rethink from CEO Altman OpenAI, the makers of ChatGPT, have performed something of an about-face after fans were upset that it deleted the older models to only allow users to use the new GPT-5 model. What happened? The launch of the new GPT model caused
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GPT-5 Is Turning Into a Disaster
No AI product in history had been anticipated with as much hype as OpenAI's long-awaited GPT-5. But after launching with great fanfare last week, the shiny new model has landed with a thud -- and that could be very bad news for OpenAI, which relies on a sense of inertia to keep pulling in users
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OpenAI Bringing Back More Parasocial Version of ChatGPT After Users Scream and Cry That Their Robot Friend Got Taken Away
ChatGPT's fans have developed intense attachments to some of the "personalities" exhibited by the company's large language models (LLMs) -- and as such, many were in a state of panic when the choice to switch between models like GPT-4o, 4.5, and others was abruptly taken away after the release of
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The promise of an AI utopia is crumbling before our eyes
When your company is valued at half a trillion dollars and promises an imminent utopia, you must not flop. OpenAI discovered this the hard way last week. It had kept the world waiting two and a half years for a new large-language model, GPT-5, and unveiled it to great fanfare on Thursday. But the
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OpenAI Has a Major Problem on Its Hands With GPT-5
It has only been five days since OpenAI's long-awaited GPT-5 model was released -- and in those five days, we've been given countless reasons to conclude that it's a bit of a dud. From Axios' review announcing that the new large language model (LLM) has "landed with a thud" to Ars Technica making
[41]
GPT-5: Has AI just plateaued?
OpenAI claims that its new flagship model, GPT-5, marks "a significant step along the path to AGI" -- that is, the artificial general intelligence that AI bosses and self-proclaimed experts often claim is around the corner. According to OpenAI's own definition, AGI would be "a highly autonomous
[42]
GPT-5 Users Say It Seriously Sucks
On Thursday, OpenAI released its long-awaited GPT-5 AI model, a free-to-use "reasoning" model that CEO Sam Altman claimed to be the world's best at coding and writing. But power users have been strikingly underwhelmed with the new tool so far, raising questions about diminishing returns as the
[43]
There's a Compelling Theory Why GPT-5 Sucks so Much
The launch of OpenAI's long-awaited GPT-5 model last week marked an ignominious chapter for the company. While it boasted modest performance upgrades on paper, the actual experience of using it left many fans sorely disappointed. Common criticisms were that its answers were too short and its
[44]
OpenAI's GPT-5 struggles with maps and math despite PhD-level promises
Sam Altman promised "PhD-level intelligence." Users got a model that thinks Oregon is called "Onegon" and Joe Biden is still president. OpenAI's GPT-5, billed as the company's most advanced AI yet, has sparked widespread disappointment and ridicule since its Thursday launch, with users reporting
[45]
Bumps in the Machine: OpenAI's GPT-5 Rollout Stumbles Into the Spotlight - Decrypt
PR stumbles and ethical concerns deepen skepticism around OpenAI's most ambitious model yet. OpenAI's much-hyped launch of GPT-5 -- touted as a groundbreaking leap in artificial intelligence -- has instead hit a familiar snag called reality. The company billed the model as its most advanced yet,
[46]
OpenAI's Rollout of GPT-5 Is Going Terribly
On Thursday, OpenAI officially revealed GPT-5 to the world. The much-hyped presentation was sparse on many specific benchmarks comparing GPT-5 to its past models, but OpenAI's staff was adamant: this model is the best, most knowledgeable, and most powerful one to date. Many of the users who have
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OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says some folk are using AI in 'self-destructive ways' so it's on us as a society to work out how 'to make it a big net positive'
As AI encroaches further into all of our lives, one of the more questionable use cases has come to the fore: people using LLMs as a therapist or life coach. This behaviour is so widespread that OpenAI has been actively taking steps to dial-back the kind of advice that ChatGPT will give users on
[48]
ChatGPT-5 upgrade faces user backlash as AI rivals gain ground
ChatGPT-5 users on social media platforms were critical of the update, and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman responded to the complaints, pledging improvements. ChatGPT users flooded social media forums with negative comments about the platform's latest model released on Thursday, saying the upgrade was
[49]
Critics call GPT-5 a regression from GPT-4o
OpenAI released its GPT-5 model five days ago, prompting immediate scrutiny from tech media and users regarding its performance compared to prior expectations and previous iterations. Initial assessments of GPT-5 have been critical. Axios described the new large language model as having "landed
[50]
OpenAI Just Announced GPT-5, Its Best Model Yet, and People Are Very Mad
On paper, GPT-5 is the best thing OpenAI has ever made. It's faster, smarter, better at reasoning, and comes with multiple variants designed to handle everything from casual conversation to complex problem-solving. Sam Altman called it "a team of PhD-level experts in your pocket." The thing is: a
[51]
ChatGPT Users Are Not Impressed With GPT-5 as OpenAI Retires Older Models
Sam Altman said that Plus subscribers will get access to GPT-4o ChatGPT users are not happy with OpenAI's latest frontier artificial intelligence (AI) model, GPT-5. The new model was released on Thursday as a unification of the GPT-series and o-series. The San Francisco-based company said that
[52]
GPT-5 Has a 'Personality' Problem
GPT-5 might be OpenAI's smartest model yet, but heavy users miss GPT-4o's warmth. Last week, OpenAI launched the highly anticipated GPT-5, billing it as its smartest, fastest and most powerful A.I. model yet. But what was meant to be a landmark moment quickly turned messy -- plagued by technical
[53]
Thousands trash GPT-5 on Reddit, saying ChatGPT's big update is 'horrible'
OpenAI's GPT-5 launch has sparked widespread user backlash, with complaints flooding Reddit within hours. Users are decrying the removal of older models, stricter usage limits, and perceived performance decline compared to GPT-4o. The update's shortcomings, coupled with CEO Sam Altman's hype, have
[54]
Overhyped, Underwhelming: GPT-5's Missed Moment
OpenAI recently launched its new model of ChatGPT 5, claiming to improve reasoning and accuracy. However, after launch, many previous users have cancelled their subscriptions as it is seen that GPT-5 gives shorter responses and less emotional connection than previous models did. As ChatGPT 5
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OpenAI aims to stay ahead of rivals with new GPT-5 technology - The Economic Times
OpenAI has launched GPT-5, a major ChatGPT upgrade that's faster, more accurate, and better at reasoning. It powers the free version, enabling human-like conversations and rapid app creation. OpenAI also released open-source models, seeks $40 billion funding, and faces a copyright lawsuit.ChatGPT
[56]
'GPT-5 feels dumber': Users on OpenAI's newest model - The Economic Times
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman acknowledged the issues, shared some insight into what went wrong, and promised to take steps to help improve the user experience. OpenAI recently launched GPT-5, which it described as its smartest and most powerful artificial intelligence (AI) model so far. But its users
[57]
Is GPT-4o making a comeback after reports of user backlash on GPT-5? Here's what Sam Altman says
After the backlash over GPT-4o's removal from the free tier, OpenAI affirmed its return but only for Plus subscribers. GPT-5 will stay default for free users, providing stronger reasoning but lacking GPT-4o's speed and usage. Fans say GPT-4o felt friendlier and more creative, sparking debates about
[58]
As GPT-5 Launches, OpenAI Loyalists Pushed Altman for GPT-4o's Return, Citing Performance and Reliability
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced the return of GPT-4o in the wake of a strong backlash from Reddit users over the newly introduced GPT-5. What Happened: OpenAI decided to resurrect GPT-4o less than a day after its replacement with GPT-5. This move was a direct response to a Reddit forum where users
[59]
GPT-5 Backlash: Users Slam OpenAI's New Model, Demand Return of GPT-4o
ChatGPT Users Slam New GPT-5 Model, Saying It's Dumber than the Older Models OpenAI recently launched its new GPT-5 model, which promised significant performance enhancements over its previous model. However, users are unhappy with the new AI model and are asking to restore GPT-4o. They believe
[60]
Early reactions to ChatGPT-5 are all bad: What went wrong for OpenAI?
How GPT-5's troubled rollout is pushing users toward competitors like Claude and Gemini When I first heard OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman hype up ChatGPT-5 as a groundbreaking step toward artificial general intelligence, I was excited to dive in and explore its promised "PhD-level" reasoning and massive
[61]
Sam Altman admits killing GPT-4o after GPT-5 launch was a mistake: Here's why
\Why removing an AI feels like ending a relationship to so many When OpenAI pulled GPT-4o from its platform during the GPT-5 rollout, the change might have looked like a straightforward technical upgrade. But for many daily users, GPT-4o was more than a tool, it was a consistent conversational
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OpenAI's release of GPT-5 has led to widespread user dissatisfaction and debates about the pace of AI advancement, forcing the company to make rapid adjustments.
GPT-5 Launch and User Backlash
OpenAI's release of GPT-5, the latest iteration of its large language model, has sparked a significant user revolt and raised questions about the pace of AI progress. The launch, which took place on August 7, 2025, was met with immediate criticism from ChatGPT users who found the new model lacking compared to its predecessor, GPT-4o
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Source: Analytics Insight
Users complained about GPT-5's "overworked secretary" energy and lamented the loss of the digital "friends" they had grown accustomed to in previous models. Many expressed their dissatisfaction on social media platforms and Reddit, with some even threatening to cancel their paid subscriptions
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.OpenAI's Response and Adjustments
The backlash forced OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to make a public apology and reverse key decisions. Altman announced that the company would keep the previous model, GPT-4o, running for Plus users and implement fixes to improve GPT-5's performance
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. OpenAI also promised to:- Double GPT-5 rate limits for ChatGPT Plus users
- Improve the system that switches between models
- Allow users to specify when they want to trigger a more capable "thinking mode"
Performance and Expectations
Despite OpenAI's claims of GPT-5 being a significant upgrade with PhD-level intelligence and virtuoso coding skills, many users and experts have found the improvements to be modest. The model's performance on public benchmarks isn't dramatically better than leading models from other AI companies, such as Anthropic's Claude or Google's Gemini
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.Mirella Lapata from the University of Edinburgh noted, "A lot of people hoped that there would be a breakthrough, and it's not a breakthrough. It's an upgrade, and it feels kind of incremental"
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.Implications for AI Progress
Source: New Yorker
The seemingly underwhelming improvements in GPT-5 have led to questions about whether the AI industry can make significant advancements with its current designs. Some experts suggest that companies may need a fresh approach to build more intelligent AI systems
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.The focus appears to be shifting from building smarter models to pushing existing AI into more applications. As noted in the MIT Technology Review, "We might be stuck with only marginal improvements in large language models' capabilities for the time being. That leaves AI companies with one option: Work with what you've got"
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User Attachment and Ethical Concerns
The backlash has also sparked a debate over the psychological attachments some users form with chatbots. Pattie Maes, a professor at MIT, commented on the less sycophantic nature of GPT-5, stating, "I personally think of that as a good thing because it is also what led to delusions, bias reinforcement, etc. But unfortunately many users like a model that tells them they are smart and amazing, and that confirms their opinions and beliefs, even if [they are] wrong"
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Source: Tom's Hardware
Future Outlook
While GPT-5's launch has been controversial, there are still positive signs for the future of AI. A separate OpenAI model has achieved gold medal scores in elite mathematical and coding competitions, suggesting more general reasoning capabilities
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.As the AI landscape continues to evolve, companies like OpenAI face the challenge of balancing user expectations, ethical concerns, and technological advancements. The GPT-5 launch serves as a reminder of the complexities involved in developing and deploying advanced AI systems in real-world applications.
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