OpenAI officially released GPT-5, its most advanced artificial intelligence model to date. CEO Sam Altman described the launch as a “pivotal milestone,” but early reactions from users and experts show both enthusiasm and criticism.

What Is GPT-5?

OpenAI’s latest large language model, integrated into ChatGPT, the company’s popular AI chatbot. According to OpenAI, the model outperforms earlier versions in logical reasoning, programming, and problem-solving, claiming to operate at the level of a “PhD expert.”

Early Praise and Criticism

Some developers and researchers praised the update. Simon Willison, a software developer, called GPT-5 “competent and impressive,” though he noted the progress was incremental rather than revolutionary.

Others were less convinced. On social media, users pointed out that this tool still struggles with basic math, spelling, and factual accuracy. Noah Giansiracusa, associate professor of mathematics at Bentley University, described the release as “disappointing,” saying improvements were “more limited than expected.”

Automatic Model Switching Feature

One of the most debated changes in GPT-5 is its automatic model-switching system. This feature allows OpenAI to optimize computing resources by selecting different model variants depending on the query. However, it also means users may not always interact with the most powerful version.

For example, this tool initially claimed the word blueberry contained three “b”s, but corrected itself when asked to “think more deeply.” Altman later admitted a technical issue had interfered with the feature at launch, assuring users that performance would improve.

GPT-5 vs. AI Competitors

The release comes amid growing competition in the AI industry. Since the launch of ChatGPT in 2022, OpenAI has invested heavily in research, data centers, and specialized chips to maintain its lead.

On LMArena, a popular AI benchmarking platform, GPT-5 scored highly across several categories. However, on the ARC-AGI-2 test, it was surpassed by Grok, a model developed by Elon Musk’s company xAI.

Academic and Public Reactions

In academic settings, it has received positive reviews. Ethan Mollick, professor at the University of Pennsylvania, praised its use for research, writing, and programming, saying it can be “exceptional, bizarre, but always interesting.”

Public opinion online has been more critical. On Reddit, users questioned OpenAI’s transparency about which version of GPT-5 responds in ChatGPT. Others argued the “quality of writing” feels weaker compared to GPT-4.5.

Final Outlook: Is GPT-5 a Breakthrough?

With nearly 700 million weekly ChatGPT users, it is still too early to declare whether it represents a breakthrough or just an incremental update. For professionals and academics, it offers valuable tools. For casual users, it may not yet live up to the hype surrounding its launch.