OpenAI, the company behind the revolutionary ChatGPT AI chatbot, has officially launched its most anticipated upgrade yet — GPT-5 — boldly claiming that the model delivers PhD-level expertise across domains like coding, writing, and advanced reasoning.
Co-founder and CEO Sam Altman described GPT-5 as “smarter, faster, and more useful” than any previous version, calling it the start of a new era for ChatGPT.
“A model like GPT-5 would have been unimaginable in any previous point in human history,” Altman stated ahead of Thursday’s release.
GPT-5 vs. The Competition: The Race for the Smartest AI Chatbot
The release comes amid an intense AI arms race, with tech giants battling to create the most advanced AI chatbot. Recently, Elon Musk boasted that the latest version of his own AI, Grok (integrated into X, formerly Twitter), was “better than PhD level in everything” and “the smartest AI in the world.”
OpenAI, however, claims GPT-5 surpasses earlier models not just in raw intelligence but in truthfulness and reliability, aiming to drastically reduce hallucinations — AI-generated false information.
What GPT-5 Can Do
OpenAI highlights three major improvements in GPT-5’s capabilities:
Full Software Development – The model can write, debug, and optimize entire applications.
Advanced Reasoning & Logic – Delivering answers that reflect deeper analysis and domain expertise.
More Human-like Interaction – Responses are trained to feel natural, accurate, and context-aware.
Altman compared past versions to education levels:
GPT-3 felt like “talking to a high school student.”
GPT-4 was “like a college graduate.”
GPT-5 now feels like speaking with a “true subject-matter expert at the PhD level.”
Experts Urge Caution Despite the Hype
While the marketing is bold, AI ethics specialists warn against overestimating the leap. Professor Carissa Véliz of the Institute for Ethics in AI noted:
“These systems, while impressive, do not truly replicate human reasoning — they only simulate it. This could be more about marketing than a fundamental breakthrough.”
Gaya Marcus, Director at the Ada Lovelace Institute, emphasized that AI regulation must keep pace:
“As these models become more capable, the urgency for comprehensive governance increases.”
Early Testing Shows Evolution, Not Revolution
BBC’s AI correspondent Marc Cieslak tested GPT-5 ahead of launch and found the core experience similar to previous ChatGPT versions: input a task or question, receive an answer.
The major change is an integrated reasoning model, which helps the AI “think” through problems more rigorously. However, Cieslak described it as evolutionary rather than revolutionary.
Industry Implications and AI Content Concerns
The rollout raises questions for creative rights. Getty Images’ Chief Product Officer Grant Farhall warned:
“As AI-generated content becomes more convincing, we must protect human creativity and ensure fair compensation for creators whose work is used to train these models.”
OpenAI’s Rift with Anthropic
The GPT-5 debut comes with drama: rival AI firm Anthropic revoked OpenAI’s access to its API, claiming terms-of-service violations ahead of GPT-5’s release. OpenAI responded that it’s “industry standard” to benchmark against competitors’ tools, calling the move “disappointing.”
ChatGPT Experience Gets a Makeover
Alongside GPT-5, OpenAI is rolling out ChatGPT user experience updates designed to foster healthier AI-human interactions.
The chatbot will now avoid giving definitive answers to highly personal life questions (e.g., “Should I break up with my partner?”). Instead, it will guide users through reasoning by asking questions, listing pros and cons, and encouraging reflection.
Altman admitted past updates made ChatGPT “overly flattering” and is working to make conversations more genuine and balanced.
AI Relationships and Public Perception
Altman, a fan of the film Her, has openly discussed society’s potential to form deep emotional connections with AI — sometimes unhealthy ones.
In 2024, Scarlett Johansson, the actress who voiced the AI in Her, accused OpenAI of using a voice “eerily similar” to hers without consent, sparking a major public dispute.
Final Word
GPT-5 is available to all users starting today. In the coming weeks, the world will see if it truly delivers on Sam Altman’s PhD-level AI promise, or if — as skeptics suggest — it’s another high-profile step in an ongoing AI hype cycle.
