ChatGPT-5 Launched: Key Features, Performance, and User Experience Shifts
In one of the most highly anticipated product launches in recent memory, OpenAI has unveiled a significant update to ChatGPT, a platform currently utilized by an estimated 700 million people weekly worldwide. This latest iteration, ChatGPT-5, promises a faster, more intuitive, and remarkably more accurate user experience, though its arrival has been accompanied by a notable shift in the AI’s “personality,” which many long-term users perceive as cold and distant. Regardless, ChatGPT-5’s release marks a pivotal moment, dramatically reshaping the competitive landscape of artificial intelligence.
At the heart of ChatGPT-5’s advancements lies a substantial leap in its intellectual capabilities. OpenAI asserts that the new model, GPT-5, represents its smartest and fastest offering to date, boasting wide-ranging improvements across critical domains such as coding, writing, and the execution of complex actions. As lead writer Angela Yang observed, the company designed GPT-5 to respond to queries with what can be described as PhD-level intelligence, aiming for a profound depth of understanding and articulation.
A key feature of this overhaul is a new internal router, engineered to automatically select the most appropriate AI engine for each user query. Theoretically, this system should route simpler questions to less demanding AI engines while reserving the most powerful ones for more complex inquiries. However, early reports indicate that this router is not yet perfected, frequently misdirecting challenging questions to weaker engines, which often leads to disappointing or inadequate responses. Consequently, for users seeking consistent quality and thoroughness, the current recommendation is to manually opt for “GPT-5 Thinking,” despite its slower response times. To mitigate this, a new “Interrupt for Quick Answer” feature allows users to prompt a faster, albeit potentially less comprehensive, response when using the more powerful GPT-5 Thinking mode.
Beyond intelligence, speed is a major emphasis. Early adopters consistently report a generally faster overall experience with ChatGPT-5. Nick Turley, ChatGPT’s head of product, highlighted this dual benefit, noting that users “really get the best of both worlds. You have it reason when it needs to reason, but you don’t have to wait as long.” This version also demonstrates improved accuracy, with a reduced tendency to generate “hallucinations” or fabricated facts. ChatGPT-5 is now more inclined to admit when it lacks an answer or to ask clarifying follow-up questions to better understand a user’s intent.
OpenAI has also democratized access to its most powerful AI engine. Previously, only paying subscribers could access the most advanced versions; now, even free users are granted limited access to the full capabilities of GPT-5. Furthermore, the advanced voice mode, which allows users to interact with ChatGPT solely through speech, is now available at the free tier, with increased usage limits for paid subscribers.
Perhaps the most contentious aspect of ChatGPT-5 is its default personality. Many early users describe GPT-5 as colder, terser, and significantly less engaging than its predecessors. The design philosophy appears to prioritize efficiency and task completion over conversational warmth. This shift has elicited strong reactions, with some users embracing the AI’s directness while others express profound disappointment. Writer Ryan Whitwam captured the sentiment of many long-time users on community forums and Reddit, who described the change as “mentally devastating” and “like a buddy of mine has been replaced by a customer service representative,” leading some to threaten canceling their paid subscriptions.
Responding to this widespread critique regarding GPT-5’s perceived aloofness, OpenAI has indicated plans to reintroduce ChatGPT-4o as an optional personality setting for ChatGPT Plus subscribers. This move suggests an acknowledgment of user preferences and a potential course correction. As the AI landscape continues to evolve, the initial reception of ChatGPT-5 underscores the delicate balance between raw computational power and the nuanced human expectation of an intelligent, yet relatable, digital companion.