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Sam Altman addresses ‘bumpy’ GPT-5 rollout, bringing 4o back, and the ‘chartcrime’
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman addressed issues from the GPT-5 rollout during a Reddit AMA, citing a malfunctioning real-time router as the reason users felt GPT-5 performed worse than GPT-4o. He promised improvements and consideration of bringing back the older model. Altman also apologized for a 'chart crime' incident during the launch presentation, affirming that feedback would lead to ongoing enhancements.
Key points
- OpenAI launched GPT-5 with a new real-time routing feature that determines which model to apply to prompts.
- Users reported feeling GPT-5 was less capable than its predecessor, GPT-4o, leading to requests for its return.
- Altman acknowledged technical difficulties with the router impacted initial performance, stating fixes would enhance user experience.
- Concerns over a faulty chart presented during the launch led to jokes about presentation reliability and was termed a 'chart crime' by Altman.
- He promised to revisit the idea of allowing Plus subscribers access to GPT-4o while also planning to double rate limits to improve user experience.
Why it matters
- The issues with GPT-5 highlight ongoing challenges in AI deployment and user experience, relevant in the current landscape of rapid AI advancements.
- This rollout follows a trend in 2023 and beyond where AI systems are increasingly integrated into business workflows and user expectations are high.
- The emphasis on real-time model switching reflects the growing complexity of AI applications, aligning with 2025 IT trends towards modular and flexible AI systems.
Altman's responses during the AMA reflect OpenAI's commitment to addressing user feedback and improving GPT-5, amidst lessons learned from the rollout challenges and the importance of transparency in AI capabilities.