Katarzyna Petru
While others are still fine-tuning their "supermodels," OpenAI is already packing the next generations into one box. GPT-5 is coming – a system that is not only meant to replace everything they have created so far but also to eliminate the chaos in the offerings and, in the process... bring us one step closer to AGI.
The end of choosing a model. GPT-5 is supposed to do it for you
“We hate how complicated our model and product offerings have become,” said Sam Altman, head of OpenAI, back in February. And it was not just empty words. GPT-5 is the answer to the frustration of users who didn't know when to reach for GPT-4o and when to reach for o4-mini. Now the model is supposed to decide whether the situation requires an instant response or deep reasoning.
The combination of GPT models and the “o” series is meant to not only simplify UX but also increase operational consistency – in every form: text, image, sound, data. In other words: one tool, many possibilities, fewer clicks.
August 2025: the premiere of GPT-5. For everyone, but not everything
If all goes according to plan, GPT-5 will debut at the beginning of August. The basic version will be available for every ChatGPT user – for free. But as you can easily guess, subscribers will get the full power – meaning those who pay for Plus, Team, or Enterprise.
The "standard" version is expected to be sufficient for most everyday applications, but if you want to access the "higher levels of intelligence," you'll need to reach into your wallet.
GPT-5 mini and nano – AI tailored to your budget
The new system will appear not only in ChatGPT. OpenAI also plans to introduce lightweight versions of GPT-5 – the "mini" and "nano" versions, available via API. Developers will be able to choose a model that fits their needs (and financial capabilities), without giving up access to the new generation of reasoning.
This is a response to the increasing competition from Llama 3, Claude 3, and Gemini, which are making a stronger entry into the enterprise and developer tools market.
Multimodality in one place. No switching
GPT-5 will be integrated with features that have so far worked separately: image handling, voice, Deep Research tools, or internet searching. This is to be one of the key changes – the system will decide for itself how to utilize the available sensors and tools to best respond to the user's question.
For example: will you ask about statistical data? GPT-5 can search the web, analyze the chart, and tell you about the results – using voice. Without manual switching between tools.
Open-source? Yes, but not right now
Alongside the release of GPT-5, OpenAI planned to launch the first open-source model in years. It was supposed to be similar to o3-mini and support reasoning, but... the deadline was pushed back. Why? As Altman stated, "additional safety tests" are needed. They want to avoid the "Grok error" – that is, releasing an immature system that then needs to be fixed in front of the whole world.
And where is that AGI?
Undeniably, all this integration and the new OpenAI strategy has one goal – to get closer to AGI, or artificial general intelligence. GPT-5 is another step, but not the last one yet. Altman admitted that the OpenAI team earned a gold medal at the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) thanks to an experimental model that surpasses the capabilities of GPT-5. However, this model will not be made publicly available yet – not for at least a few months.
Why is this important? Because when OpenAI announces it has achieved AGI, Microsoft – their key partner – will lose rights to revenue from future models. And that changes the rules of the game.
Will GPT-5 Meet Expectations?
On paper, it looks like the perfect solution – faster, smarter, more intuitive. But the real question is: will GPT-5 be able to build trust and show that simplifying the model does not mean sacrificing precision?
We will find out soon. One thing is certain: we are approaching a point where the question is no longer "will AI surpass us?" but "do we still have control over it?".
