GPT-5 Launch Disappoints: OpenAI Faces User Backlash
OpenAI’s highly anticipated GPT-5 model, released just five days ago, appears to have landed with a significant whimper rather than the bang many expected. Initial reactions from both the tech press and a growing chorus of users suggest the latest iteration of the large language model (LLM) has largely underwhelmed, raising questions about the trajectory of AI development and OpenAI’s capacity to deliver on its ambitious promises.
Major tech publications have been quick to voice their disappointment. Axios described GPT-5’s launch as “landing with a thud,” while Ars Technica characterized the rollout as “messy.” The Information, another influential outlet, suggested that OpenAI might have entered the dreaded “trough of disillusionment”—a phase where inflated expectations give way to widespread disappointment as a technology fails to live up to its hype. This collective sentiment indicates that the ChatGPT maker has fallen considerably short of the lofty benchmarks set by its leadership, particularly CEO Sam Altman, and raises a concerning possibility that the industry may be rapidly approaching a point of diminishing returns, despite the immense capital continually poured into AI research and development.
Beyond the media’s critique, social media platforms are abuzz with user complaints, many deriding the new AI model as a notable step backward. Some users have even speculated that OpenAI might be deliberately limiting GPT-5’s capabilities in an effort to cut costs. Adding to these concerns, developers who spoke with The Information reported that GPT-5 struggles with a crucial functionality: seamlessly knowing when to “think harder” when confronted with more complex prompts. This issue, which power users have already observed, suggests a fundamental flaw in the model’s ability to adapt its processing effort to task difficulty.
Compounding the issue, the perceived improvements in GPT-5 are often described as incremental at best. As The Information noted, with numerous model releases from OpenAI and its rivals since GPT-4o launched last May, any advances in GPT-5 feel minor rather than groundbreaking. This lack of a truly impressive leap is not an entirely new problem for OpenAI, but it has certainly amplified user frustration.
Many “power users” who relied heavily on the previous GPT-4o model are particularly vocal, lamenting what they perceive as a downgrade. They report that GPT-5’s responses are often shorter and less precise than those generated by its predecessor. The sheer volume of criticisms circulating on social media is alarming, especially given that only paid subscribers can revert to using GPT-4o. This restriction poses a significant risk of user exodus, as a non-zero chance exists that many loyal OpenAI users might jump ship to competing platforms offering a more satisfying experience. The current sentiment suggests that for many, GPT-5 has failed to justify the hype, leaving a void where a revolutionary step forward was anticipated.