OpenAI launches GPT-5 but transparency questions remain

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OpenAI has announced GPT-5, the latest version of its flagship AI model, promising smarter and faster responses for ChatGPT users and developers.

CEO Sam Altman is already touting the update as a massive leap, but it’s worth noting that every new model arrives with similar grand claims.

According to The Verge, Altman compared the upgrade to the jump from an old phone to the first iPhone with a Retina display—a familiar type of rhetoric in tech launches.

The company claims GPT-5 is now “PhD-level” smart, according to a company press release, but independent evaluations are still limited.

OpenAI has not published transparent information about the data used for training, and the model’s potential to “hallucinate” or confidently invent facts —a persistent issue in previous versions —remains despite improvements.

Safety and reliability have supposedly been enhanced through 5,000 hours of testing; however, OpenAI offers few specifics on what that entailed, and no third-party audits have been referenced so far.

For users, GPT-5 introduces a new interface with personality themes and a single unified model—features that may be welcome, but don’t address broader questions about AI transparency and accountability.

There are also usage caps for free users, and developers will pay for access to different model tiers. As ZDNet notes, OpenAI’s claims of “software on demand” and AGI progress remain unproven outside the company’s benchmarks.

Users can try GPT-5 directly by visiting ChatGPT on the web, where the new model is rolling out now. Developers interested in integrating GPT-5 will find details on the OpenAI API platform.

As always, take the marketing with a grain of salt—and decide for yourself if this version lives up to the hype.

Is GPT-5 the AI game-changer we’ve been waiting for, or just more smoke and mirrors? Drop a comment below, or let’s geek out over on our Facebook or Twitter. Your hot takes keep the convo alive!

Kevin Raposo

Kevin is KnowTechie's founder and executive editor. With over 15 years of blogging experience in the tech industry, Kevin has transformed what was once a passion project into a full-blown tech news publication. Shoot him an email at kevin@knowtechie.com.