OpenAI declares code red as ChatGPT faces mounting pressure from Google and Anthropic

OpenAI is secretly fast-tracking 'Garlic' to fix ChatGPT's biggest flaws: What we know

Following Google's release of Gemini 3, which quickly rose to the top of the LMArena AI leaderboard, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman informed employees that he was declaring a "code red." The aim was to further improve ChatGPT to better compete, according to a report by The Information. Now, a follow-up report from the publication reveals that the company is developing a new model in response, codenamed Garlic. (Disclosure: Ziff Davis, ZDNET's parent company, filed an April 2025 lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.) Also: Is DeepSeek's new model the latest blow to proprietary AI? OpenAI's Chief Research Officer Mark Chen informed colleagues that Garlic has performed well in company evaluations compared to Gemini 3 and Anthropic's Opus 4.5 in tasks involving coding and reason, according to the report. This is important because both Gemini 3 and Anthropic Opus 4.5, released last month, set new industry standards, with the former leading in reasoning and the latter leading in coding. OpenAI did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Chen also added that when developing Garlic, OpenAI addressed issues with pretraining, the initial phase of training in which the model begins learning from a massive dataset. The company focused the model on broader connections before training it for more specific tasks. These changes in pretraining enable OpenAI to infuse a smaller model with the same amount of knowledge previously reserved for larger models, according to Chen's remarks cited in the report. Smaller models can be beneficial for developers as they are typically cheaper and easier to deploy -- something French AI lab Mistral emphasized with its latest release this week. For the company behind it, a smaller model is cheaper to build and deploy. Garlic is not to be confused with Shallotpeat, a model Altman announced to its staff in October, according to a previous report, also from The Information, which also aimed to fix bugs in the pretraining process. Also: Amazon says new DevOps agents need no babysitting - you can try them here As for when to expect the model, Chen kept the details vague, saying only "as soon as possible" in the report. However, given the context and OpenAI's urgent need to stay ahead, it would be safe to assume that the model could be released early next year. The developments made when creating Garlic have already allowed the company to move on to developing its next bigger and better model, Chen said. This fierce race between Google and OpenAI can be partially attributed to both vying for the same sector: consumers. As Anthropic's CEO, Dario Amodei, noted in conversation with Andrew Ross Sorkin during The New York Times' DealBook Summit on Wednesday, Anthropic isn't in the same race or facing a "code red" panic as its competitors, because it is focused on serving enterprises rather than consumers. The company just announced that its Claude Code agentic coding tool reached $1 billion in run-rate revenue, only six months after becoming available to the public.

GPT-5.2 is around the corner -- but it might not be enough to take on Anthropic and Gemini

OpenAI finds itself in a strange position. Once the golden child of AI, it is now seemingly struggling to keep up. After calling a 'code red', pulling resources to improve its model, OpenAI is about to launch GPT-5.2 this week. This, as the name suggests, is yet another smaller upgrade to GPT-5. It follows GPT-5.1 which came out just one month ago. This saw ChatGPT becoming smarter, more emotionally intelligent and better at communicating. However, not long after that, both Gemini and Anthropic launched upgrades to their models, quickly outpacing the upgrades that ChatGPT had mad. Now, in an effort to keep up, OpenAI is rapidly pushing GPT-5.2 through. From the reports we've heard so far, GPT-5.2 isn't going to be a big flashy launch. Unlike the original GPT-5 update, which was pitched as a major advancement for AI, this will focus on simply making the model more efficient. This is likely to be seen in smarter reasoning, faster responses and fewer glitches and hallucinations. In other words, this is more of a patch or a slight update to fix some bumps in the system. While it won't be flashy, these kinds of upgrades are important. The underlying goal is to make ChatGPT better at answering your questions. This isn't just seen in faster replies and smarter responses, but in a better understanding of what you're asking. While OpenAI has been planning this launch for a while, it has sped the process along. The launch of Gemini 3 and, more recently, Claude Opus 4.5 will be clear signs to OpenAI that the competitors are outpacing them. Currently, most signs point to a release date of December 13. However, OpenAI is known for having a somewhat messy release schedule so this could end up being delayed further. OpenAI has found itself in a strange place for a while now. After launching its 4o model, fans spoke about the future of ChatGPT, and how GPT-5 would be a turning point for AI. However, after many delays, when OpenAI finally launched GPT-5, it was met with considerable disappointment. Many users felt like, not only did it not live up to the hype, but it didn't even feel better than previous models. The launch was so contentious that OpenAI had to re-add the option for users to use older versions of ChatGPT. Since then, OpenAI has been adding features, and dropping upgrades to the model. GPT-5.1 was a noticeable improvement, but it felt more reactionary than anything. Now, as OpenAI rushes to get GPT-5.2 out, the company is putting all of its usual flashy projects to the side, and delaying any other project in favor of this. In the AI world, OpenAI has become known for the added features. It led the pack for so long that it didn't need to offer unbelievable specs and incredible results on benchmarking tests. OpenAI went on a roll of features including Agents, web browsers, group chats and more. However, as it did all of this, the competitors kept launching smarter and better models. The good news is that OpenAI is reacting. The company seems to be fully focused on making the core ChatGPT experience better -- something its die-hard fans have been requesting for months now. While this is promising, it does see OpenAI on the backfoot, struggling to keep up. Even with the switch of focus to improving its base models, the team will need to pull off a small miracle to get back to their original status leading the AI pack.

OpenAI races Gemini 3 to the top with GPT‑5.2 drop this week

OpenAI is preparing to release GPT-5.2 as early as this week, accelerating its launch in direct response to Google's headline-grabbing Gemini 3. Originally planned for later this month, the update is now being fast-tracked under what insiders describe as a "code red" directive from CEO Sam Altman. It's a company-wide push to shore up ChatGPT's core intelligence and reclaim performance ground lost to Google's latest model. GPT-5.2 isn't a flashy reinvention, but it promises smarter reasoning, faster responses, and fewer glitches. The new model seems aimed squarely at winning back everyday users who care more about reliability than bells and whistles. Now, according to sources close to OpenAI's internal plans, the update is locked and loaded, with December 9 circled on the calendar for a full release. It was originally slated for later in December, but when Gemini 3 started topping reasoning tests and drawing praise from Altman himself, the release window got shoved forward. What happens next isn't just a contest of billion-dollar AI labs. It's a shift that will matter to anyone who uses ChatGPT for actual, daily life stuff. The goal for GPT‑5.2 is to restore OpenAI's lead in speed, smarts, and dependability. That might not sound sexy. But it's the kind of update that could quietly reassert ChatGPT's role as the most useful chatbot on the internet. Reports say that OpenAI is shelving splashy projects and experimental features in favor of raw performance. Work on ad integrations and long-term agent rollouts has been deprioritized. The directive now is to double down on what users notice most: response times, answer quality, and adaptability. It's a strategic recalibration, but one that also has a whiff of déjà vu. When ChatGPT launched in late 2022, it instantly forced Google into defensive mode. At the time, Bard didn't even exist, and Gemini wasn't yet a glimmer in Sundar Pichai's eye. Now, nearly three years later, the tables have turned. According to several independent evaluations, Gemini 3 is currently outperforming GPT‑5 Pro, especially in advanced reasoning and AGI-style metrics. Enter GPT‑5.2 as reinforcement for ChatGPT's preeminence. From what sources have indicated, this update is less about changing what ChatGPT is and more about refining how it works. Think tighter logic, smoother turn-taking, and faster processing. There won't be new personas or experimental UIs. Just fewer misfires and a greater sense that the bot you're talking to isn't guessing, it's thinking. Of course, unofficial rollout dates are more like guidelines than promises. It's possible GPT‑5.2 could still slip a few days or trickle out in staggered waves. The current bullseye is December 9, but the company has left room for adjustment, whether due to server stress, last-minute bugs, or strategic second-guessing. Still, even a slightly delayed release would signal a clear directional shift. OpenAI, once known for flashy demos and charismatic tech reveals, now seems to be chasing performance the old-fashioned way: with ruthless focus and internal pressure. And that's not necessarily bad news for users. GPT‑5.2's sudden arrival suggests we will see more emphasis on reasoning and complex comparisons than eye-catching demos of real-world engagement by AI. Users might not remember model numbers, but they do remember when ChatGPT or Gemini seems to work better. GPT‑5.2 is aiming to be an update that doesn't need hype to justify its existence.

Details Emerge on Sam Altman's Panic Sweats

OpenAI has long made it its number one goal to realize artificial general intelligence, which it described in a 2023 blog post as "AI systems that are generally smarter than humans," and which will benefit "all of humanity." Since then, experts have often accused the company of repeatedly shifting the goalposts, greatly watering down its original goal of an AI truly capable of surpassing the intellect of a human being. And now, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is reportedly setting aside what was once his firm's top priority in an effort to stop the company from succumbing to its steep competition. Last week, news emerged that the rattled executive had declared a "code red" in a note to staffers obtained by the Wall Street Journal, urging them to improve the quality of ChatGPT at the cost of delaying other projects, like advertising and a personal assistant. Now, the newspaper has revealed new details about Altman's call to arms, suggesting OpenAI "may have to pause" its quest to pursue AGI for the company to survive. It's a damning admission, highlighting how much pressure is building up on the company as it plans to spend well north of a trillion dollars to build out infrastructure over the next five years. Google, whose AI offerings are rapidly catching up, has clearly sent a strong signal, causing OpenAI's executive branch to batten up the hatches and double down on its core offering, ChatGPT. Instead of vetting the tool's output with the help of human professionals, Altman is looking to make "better use of user signals," per the WSJ. In other words, the company is doubling down on user feedback to boost engagement -- even if that means making its models more sycophantic, which can have disastrous side effects. It's a neck-in-neck race between OpenAI and Google. OpenAI is expected to release its latest AI model, called 5.2, later this week, likely a response to Google's Gemini 3, which impressed with benchmarks that exceeded OpenAI's current most powerful models. Google's Nano Banana Pro AI image model, which was released last month, has also been hailed as a substantial leap, while OpenAI's video and controversy-generating app, Sora, has fallen by the wayside. In fact, according to the WSJ, Sora may also be put on pause as OpenAI doubles down on ChatGPT. OpenAI staffers appear to be painfully aware of OpenAI and Google trading blows, closely following LM Arena, an AI leaderboard that assigns each AI model a score based on users choosing the best output to the same prompt between two AI models. Indeed, Altman argued in his memo that "we should be at the top of things like LM [A]rena." To do so, the executive is calling on the company to focus on making its AI models more personable, a quality that experts warn could lead to more users spiraling into severe delusions. Where that leaves OpenAI's original goal of building an AI that can surpass the intellect of a human being remains unclear at best. Altman, who has long garnered a reputation for setting sweeping and extremely ambitious goals, is now singing a notably different tune from before -- as his company doubles down on its number one money maker at all costs.

OpenAI COO Brad Lightcap says code red will 'force' the company to focus, as the ChatGPT maker ramps up enterprise push | Fortune

OpenAI's Chief Operating Officer Brad Lightcap says the company's recent 'code red' alert will force the $500 billion startup to "focus" as it faces heightened competition in the technical capabilities of its AI models and in making inroads among business customers. "I think a big part of it is really just starting to push on the rate at which we see improvement in focus areas within the models," Lightcap said on stage at Fortune's Brainstorm AI conference in San Francisco on Tuesday. "What you're going to see, even starting fairly soon, will be a really exciting series of things that we release." Last week, in an internal memo shared with employees, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said he was declaring a "Code Red" alarm within the organization, according to reports from The Information and the Wall Street Journal. Altman told employees it was "a critical time for ChatGPT," the company's flagship product, and that OpenAI would delay other initiatives, including its advertising plans to focus on improving the core product. Speaking at the event on Tuesday, Lightcap framed the code red alert as a standard practice that many businesses occasionally undertake to sharpen focus, and not an OpenAI specific action. But Lightcap acknowledged the importance of the move at OpenAI at this moment, given the growth in headcount and projects over the past couple of years. "For a company that's doing a bazillion things, it's actually quite refreshing," he said. "We will come out of it. I think what comes out of it that way will be really exciting." In addition to the increasing pressure from Google and its Gemini family of LLM models, OpenAI is facing heightened competition from rival AI lab Anthropic among enterprise customers. Anthropic has emerged as a favorite for businesses, particularly software engineers, due to its popular coding tools and reputation for AI safety. Lightcap told the audience that the company was focused on pushing enterprise adoption of AI tools. He said OpenAI was developing two main levels of enterprise products: user-focused solutions like ChatGPT, which boost team productivity, and lower-level APIs for developers to build custom applications. However, he noted the company currently lacks offerings in the middle tier, such as tools are user-directed but also have deep integration into enterprise systems, like AI coding assistants that employees can direct while tapping into the organization's code bases. He said the company was also prioritizing further investments to enable enterprises to tackle longer-term, complex tasks using AI.

ChatGPT 5.2 Arriving Soon? With Major Speed, Reliability & Customisation Upgrades

What if the next leap in artificial intelligence wasn't just about being smarter, but faster, more reliable, and deeply personal? OpenAI's latest creation, codenamed "Garlic", is poised to redefine the AI landscape as ChatGPT 5.2 (or possibly GPT-5.5). With whispers of new upgrades in speed, efficiency, and customization, this model isn't just an iteration, it's a statement. But why the sudden urgency? OpenAI's "code red" strategy reveals a high-stakes race against competitors like Google, signaling that the Garlic model isn't just about innovation, it's about survival in a fiercely competitive market. In this in-depth coverage, Universe of AI explore what makes Garlic more than just another upgrade in the GPT series. From its rumored ability to solve complex mathematical problems with unprecedented accuracy to its promise of faster processing and environmental sustainability, the Garlic model is shaping up to be a fantastic option. But how does it stack up against Google's Gemini 3, and what does this rivalry mean for the future of AI? As we unpack the details, you'll discover the bold moves OpenAI is making to maintain its dominance, and why this release could mark a pivotal moment in the evolution of artificial intelligence. OpenAI's Garlic Model Overview OpenAI's "Code Red" Strategy In response to increasing competition in the AI sector, OpenAI has initiated a "code red" strategy, signaling a shift in priorities. The company has redirected resources from secondary projects, such as advertising and shopping integrations, to concentrate on refining its language models. This strategic pivot highlights OpenAI's commitment to enhancing the core performance of ChatGPT, focusing on quality, speed, and personalization. By prioritizing these areas, OpenAI aims to maintain its leadership position in the face of growing challenges from competitors like Google, which continues to push the boundaries of AI innovation. What is the Garlic Model? The Garlic model, OpenAI's latest development, builds upon the foundation of GPT-5 while integrating lessons learned from earlier iterations, including GPT-4.5 and the experimental "Shallow Pete." Although OpenAI has not released detailed technical specifications, industry experts speculate that Garlic will feature structural upgrades and bug fixes designed to address limitations in previous versions. These enhancements are expected to improve the model's speed, efficiency, and reliability, positioning it as a strong contender against Google's Gemini 3. GPT-5.2 : Everything We Know About OpenAI's "Garlic" Model! Dive deeper into GPT-5.2 with other articles and guides we have written below. Key Advancements in GPT-5.2 The Garlic model is anticipated to introduce several significant advancements that address user feedback and emerging demands in the AI market. These include: * Enhanced mathematical reasoning: The model is expected to solve complex problems with greater accuracy, making it more effective for technical and academic applications. * Advanced academic reasoning: Improved handling of nuanced and specialized queries will enhance its ability to process and generate detailed, context-aware responses. * Faster processing and energy efficiency: Reduced latency and lower computational costs will make the model more accessible and environmentally sustainable. * Increased reliability: Fewer errors and inconsistencies in responses will improve user trust and satisfaction. * Customizability: Users will have greater flexibility to tailor the model's behavior to meet specific needs, allowing more personalized interactions. These upgrades are designed to ensure that GPT-5.2 remains competitive and relevant in a rapidly evolving AI landscape. Performance Benchmarks and Early Insights Preliminary testing of the Garlic model suggests that ChatGPT 5.2 could outperform Google's Gemini 3 in several critical areas. Early benchmarks highlight notable gains in academic reasoning and mathematical problem-solving, two domains where AI models have traditionally faced challenges. These improvements reflect OpenAI's focus on refining intellectual capabilities while maintaining practical usability. If these results are consistent upon release, the Garlic model could redefine performance standards for AI systems. When Will ChatGPT 5.2 Be Released? Initial reports indicated that the Garlic model would launch on December 9, 2025. However, recent updates suggest a potential delay, with the release now expected between December 15 and 19 or possibly in early 2026. This delay is likely due to final testing and optimization efforts, as OpenAI works to ensure the model meets its rigorous standards for quality and reliability. While the delay may be disappointing for some, it underscores OpenAI's commitment to delivering a polished and high-performing product. Google's Competitive Moves As OpenAI prepares to release the Garlic model, Google is advancing its own AI initiatives. The company is reportedly testing follow-up models to Gemini 3, codenamed "Skyhawk" and "Seahawk." These models are designed to be smaller and faster, directly targeting OpenAI's latest developments. The rivalry between OpenAI and Google is intensifying, with both companies accelerating their timelines and innovations to gain a competitive edge. This competition is driving rapid advancements in AI technology, benefiting users with increasingly powerful tools. What This Means for the AI Industry The ongoing competition between OpenAI and Google highlights the fast-paced evolution of artificial intelligence. As both companies strive to push the boundaries of what AI can achieve, the industry is poised for significant advancements. The success of these developments will depend on factors such as timing, capabilities, and the practical applications of their respective models. For users, this translates to access to more robust and versatile tools capable of addressing a wide range of challenges, from academic research to business operations. Looking Ahead OpenAI's Garlic model represents a critical step forward in the development of AI technology. With its anticipated improvements in speed, efficiency, reliability, and customization, ChatGPT 5.2 has the potential to set new standards in the industry. However, the competitive landscape remains dynamic, with Google's Gemini 3 and its successors posing significant challenges. As the release date approaches, all eyes are on OpenAI to see whether Garlic can deliver on its promise and solidify the company's position as a leader in artificial intelligence. Media Credit: Universe of AI

OpenAI Working on New AI Model Garlic as Google Pushes Gemini Forward

OpenAI Builds Garlic, Its Next AI Model, as Google Accelerates Gemini The rivalry between Google and OpenAI has intensified as the number of advanced models capable of delivering greatly improved results in artificial intelligence grows. Increasingly, the two corporations have begun focusing on their investments in new natural language processing and understanding models capable of performing complex reasoning, writing code, and handling multiple simultaneous tasks across a wide range of data types. In the midst of this competitive struggle lies OpenAI's "Garlic" model; Garlic may serve as a disruptive innovation that challenges the dominance of Google's "Gemini" series of models. According to preliminary sources, Garlic can outperform all existing coding and reasoning models. With ongoing work and interest from different industries, Garlic is very likely to be an innovation that alters how everyone uses smart systems for business use cases in the future.

OpenAI's code red to continue even after GPT 5.2 release this week, Sam Altman reportedly confirms

CEO Sam Altman told employees that improved user signals and the LMArena ranking platform are now central to product strategy. OpenAI seems to be serious with its internal 'Code Red' directive. The latest reports suggest that the AI startup is working on a slew of updates for its chatbot, ChatGPT. As per a Wall Street Journal report citing sources familiar with the matter, the company is said to roll out GPT 5.2 this week, and it will include some big improvements aimed at enterprise users and developers. Further, the report added that the update is being finalised as some staff pushed for a longer timeline to refine the capabilities. Even after the progress, the code red issued by CEO Sam Altman is not expected to end soon. As per multiple reports, Altman, during interactions with Journalists in New York, confirmed that another major model update is scheduled for January. The upcoming model is said to deliver natural image generation, more expressive personality reminiscent of GPT-4o, and reduced response delays, a combination that may conclude the company's high-pressure internal push. Other details have also emerged about the memo that triggered the code red. Altman has reportedly told employees that to improve ChatGPT, they require better use of user preference signals, the same types of feedback patterns previously linked to some sycophantic behaviour in earlier models. He also stated the strategic importance of LMArena, a crowdsourced platform that ranks AI models and has become an informal barometer of public preference. Models that perform on the leaderboard tend to resonate strongly with users, Altman stated. The intense focus has also exposed a divide inside the company. Product-oriented teams. Led by executives including Applications CEO Fidji Simo and CFO Sarah Friar, the company is said to be pushing for rapid improvements to the everyday ChatGPT experience. On the other hand, researchers focused on artificial general intelligence reportedly favour prioritising breakthroughs in advanced reasoning. This comes after Google, Anthropic and xAI have introduced their new capable models- Gemini Pro 3, Claude Opus 4.5 and Grok 4.1, respectively.

OpenAI working on new AI model called Garlic as Google steps up its AI game

The company is expected to release an early version of the model as soon as possible. OpenAI is reportedly developing a new large language model codenamed Garlic as the company pushes to strengthen its position in the fast-moving artificial intelligence industry, according to a report from The Information. The project is likely a part of OpenAI's effort to keep pace with strong advances from competitors, especially Google. Mark Chen, OpenAI's chief research officer, reportedly shared details about Garlic with some employees last week. Internal tests show that the model is performing well compared to Google's Gemini 3 and Anthropic's Opus 4.5, particularly in coding and reasoning tasks. The company is expected to release an early version of the model as soon as possible. It could arrive as GPT-5.2 or GPT-5.5, with a potential launch in early 2026. Also read: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman declares code red as Google, Anthropic and other rivals moving ahead in AI race: Report The news comes at a time when OpenAI is said to be entering what CEO Sam Altman has described as a "code red" period. According to reports from The Wall Street Journal and The Information, Altman told employees that the company needs to urgently focus on improving ChatGPT as competition increases. In an internal memo, Altman said that several upcoming projects will be paused so teams can concentrate fully on upgrades to ChatGPT. These paused projects reportedly include new advertising tools, health-focused and shopping-focused AI agents, and a personal assistant called Pulse. Instead, OpenAI is expected to prioritise improvements to ChatGPT's speed, accuracy, reliability, and personalisation. Also read: Apple hires Google and Microsoft veteran as new vice president of AI as John Giannandrea steps down To push things forward more quickly, the company will reportedly hold daily check-ins for teams working on the upgrades. Employees are also being encouraged to temporarily join these groups to help move development along faster. Also read: Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold is finally here: Camera, display, battery and all other specs