OpenAI Temporarily Boosts GPT-5 Reasoning Capabilities Amid User Feedback

OpenAI now gives all GPT-5 users more reasoning power

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced an increase in rate limits for reasoning models for all ChatGPT users, a temporary change affecting all model classes, driven by a surge in users accessing reasoning capabilities, with future capacity trade-offs yet to be detailed. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently stated that the company is increasing the rate limit for reasoning models across all ChatGPT user tiers. This adjustment, while comprehensive in its application to all model classes, is explicitly temporary. OpenAI indicated that it will subsequently determine how to manage future capacity trade-offs, which suggests potential alterations for users on the free tier. This decision stems from new data indicating a rise in the number of users engaging with the reasoning capabilities offered by the AI models. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Altman confirmed that all ChatGPT users would experience higher rate limits for reasoning models. He further stated that "All model-class limits will shortly be higher than they were before GPT-5." This phrasing is notable, as OpenAI had previously retired older models concurrently with the release of GPT-5. However, this policy was reversed over the weekend, when the company reinstated the GPT-4o artificial intelligence model following user feedback. Users had expressed dissatisfaction, noting that the conversational responses from the latest large language models were perceived as less engaging and shorter compared to the older models. The current model structure means that free-tier users have access only to the GPT-5 Thinking model, which is integrated into the standard GPT-5 AI model, a unified system combining GPT- and o-series models. In contrast, paid subscribers retain access to a distinct Thinking model, which they can select via a model picker. Additionally, GPT-4o, an o-series model, also possesses reasoning capabilities. Providing these elevated rate limits for reasoning models imposes significant operational costs on OpenAI, a company already operating at a loss due to substantial expenses. Altman acknowledged that managing these increased rate limits would necessitate "capacity trade-offs," with further details on how the company plans to address this to be released in the coming days. Altman elaborated on the rationale behind the increased rate limits for reasoning models, attributing it to a demonstrable rise in the daily percentage of users accessing these specific capabilities. He provided detailed statistics: the percentage of free users utilizing reasoning models increased from one percent to seven percent. For Plus subscribers, the growth was even more pronounced, with usage rising from seven percent to 24 percent. Altman also commented, "I expect use of reasoning to increase over time greatly, so rate limit increases are important."

You Now Have a Higher Usage Limit With ChatGPT-5, But Not for Long

Recently, the company reinstated the GPT-4o model for Plus subscribers OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced on Sunday that the company is increasing the rate limit of the reasoning models for all users. The San Francisco-based AI firm said this new change will affect all model classes; however, this change is temporary. Going forward, the company said it will decide how to tackle this capacity trade-off, hinting that those on the free tier might lose out on some other features. The decision was made in light of new data received by the company, which highlighted that the number of users accessing the reasoning capability was on the rise. In a post on X (formerly known as Twitter), the OpenAI CEO announced that all ChatGPT users were going to get higher rate limits for reasoning models. Additionally, he said, "All model-class limits will shortly be higher than they were before GPT-5." The phrasing of the message is interesting. With the release of GPT-5, OpenAI has retired the older models. This was changed over the weekend, when, due to user backlash, the company had to bring back the GPT-4o artificial intelligence (AI) model. Users had complained that the latest large language models' (LLMs) conversational responses were short and not as warm as the older models. This means those on the free tier only have access to the GPT-5 Thinking model, which is baked into the standard AI model (GPT-5 unifies the GPT- and o-series models), while paid subscribers get access to a separate Thinking model that can be selected from the model picker. In addition, GPT-4o, which is also an o-series model, is capable of reasoning. Providing higher rate limits for these models will not be cheap for the AI firm, which is already running in losses due to high operational costs. Highlighting that managing this increased rate limit will lead to some "capacity trade-offs," Altman said the company will share how it plans to tackle this in the coming days. Explaining the reason behind OpenAI increasing rate limits for reasoning models, the CEO said that the percentage of users accessing reasoning models daily was on the rise. Sharing the numbers, he added that free users using reasoning models increased from one percent to seven percent, while for Plus subscribers, the increase was from seven percent to 24 percent. "I expect use of reasoning to increase over time greatly, so rate limit increases are important," Altman added.

OpenAI boosts reasoning model limits for all users amid GPT-5 backlash

Higher limits may be short-lived as OpenAI weighs performance, costs, and accessibility trade-offs. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced on Sunday that the company is temporarily increasing rate limits for its reasoning models across all user tiers. The move, which applies to every model, aims to address a surge in demand, but free-tier users may lose access to certain features. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Altman confirmed, "All model-class limits will shortly be higher than they were before GPT-5." The announcement was made after the AI model faced backlash from users for its reasoning capabilities. Altman also stated that the daily usage among free-tier users has grown from 1% to 7%, while Plus subscribers' usage has jumped from 7% to 24%. Over the weekend, the GPT-5's conversational tone has received a massive backlash from users as shorter and less warm than earlier versions, prompting the company to reinstate the older GPT-4 model for specific users. GPT-5 now serves as the unified standard model, comprising GPT-5, which unifies the GPT- and o-series models. Free users have access only to the GPT-5 Thinking model, while paid subscribers can choose between different reasoning models, including GPT-4o. However, increasing rate limits for computationally intensive reasoning features won't be cheap. OpenAI already faces steep operating costs, and Altman acknowledged that the change would require "capacity trade-offs." The company will decide in the coming days how to manage these constraints, said Altman. Also read: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 price drop alert! Get Rs 12,000 discount: Here's how Altman also said that the reasoning capabilities will likely play a much bigger role in AI use over time. "I expect use of reasoning to increase over time greatly, so rate limit increases are important," he said. For now, both free and paid users can enjoy more generous access to reasoning models; however, it may not last as OpenAI evaluates the balance between performance, cost, and accessibility.