OpenAI Launches GPT-5: Smarter, Safer, and Free for All — Here’s What’s New
OpenAI announced on Thursday the release of GPT-5, its newest and most powerful artificial intelligence model to date. The company is making GPT-5 available to all users, including those on its free tier. According to OpenAI, the model is significantly smarter, faster, and “far more capable” at tasks like writing, coding, and healthcare applications.
During a press briefing, Sam Altman, OpenAI’s CEO, remarked, “I recently tried using GPT-4 again, and it just doesn’t hold up.” Since debuting ChatGPT in 2022, OpenAI has seen explosive growth. The company anticipates 700 million weekly active users for ChatGPT by this week and is reportedly in talks with investors for a potential share sale that could value the company at $500 billion, as noted by CNBC.
Key Improvements in GPT-5
Fewer Errors: GPT-5 is less prone to factual inaccuracies and hallucinations.
Enhanced Safety: OpenAI spent 5,000 hours testing GPT-5’s safety protocols. Instead of refusing risky queries, it now provides “safe completions” — responses designed to avoid harm.
Better Self-Awareness: “GPT-5 recognizes impossible tasks, avoids guesswork, and clearly explains its limitations, reducing misinformation,” said Michelle Pokrass, OpenAI’s Head of Training Refinement.
Demo: “Vibe Coding” and Instant App Development
During the event, OpenAI showcased “vibe coding” — building software from simple text prompts. When asked to create a French-learning web app with flashcards, quizzes, and progress tracking, GPT-5 generated two fully functional apps in seconds. An OpenAI lead admitted the apps had “some rough edges” but emphasized users can tweak the AI-generated code (e.g., changing layouts or adding features).
Tiered Access and Availability
Free Users: Gain access to GPT-5 (a first for free-tier users) but switch to GPT-5 Mini upon hitting usage limits.
Plus/Pro Users: Higher limits (Pro offers unlimited access + GPT-5 Pro).
Enterprise/Education: Rollout begins one week post-launch.
Industry Reactions
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella reflected on X: “It’s astounding to think GPT-4 debuted just 2.5 years ago — how far we’ve come!” He referenced Altman’s 2023 visit to Microsoft’s HQ, which preceded their AI partnership. Microsoft is integrating GPT-5 into 365 Copilot, Azure AI Foundry, and consumer Copilot tools.
Box CEO Aaron Levie praised GPT-5’s leap in reasoning: “Earlier models struggled with complex data, but GPT-5 is a game-changer — it retains more context and makes logical decisions.”
For Developers
OpenAI’s API now offers three versions:
gpt-5 (full capability)
gpt-5-mini (lightweight)
gpt-5-nano (cost/speed-optimized).
The company also released two open-weight models (its first since GPT-2 in 2019), catering to developers needing customizable, affordable options.
A More “Human” AI
OpenAI claims GPT-5’s interactions feel more natural. Altman likened it to “having a team of PhDs on call.” “People’s ideas aren’t limited by their tools anymore,” he added, highlighting the model’s potential to unlock creativity.
Source : https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/07/openai-launches-gpt-5-model-for-all-chatgpt-users.html
