OpenAI has unveiled GPT-5, the newest and most capable version of its artificial intelligence technology, making it available to all ChatGPT users — including those on the free tier — as of Thursday. The company says GPT-5 is smarter, faster, and more broadly useful than its predecessors, with particular strengths in writing, coding, and health care.
The model boasts a reduced rate of “hallucinations,” or fabricated answers, thanks to extensive safety testing that included 5,000 hours of evaluation. Instead of declining to answer potentially risky questions, GPT-5 is designed to provide safe, high-level responses that remain within strict safety parameters. It can also better recognize when a task can’t be completed and explain its limitations more clearly, reducing unsupported claims.
A demonstration highlighted GPT-5’s capabilities in “vibe coding,” in which users describe a project in plain language and receive fully functional software in seconds. Given the same prompt twice — to create a French-learning web app with an engaging theme, quizzes, and progress tracking — GPT-5 produced two distinct versions, each ready for user customization.
This launch marks the first time free ChatGPT users will have access to a “reasoning model,” which processes an internal chain of thought before producing responses. Free users will also have access to GPT-5 mini after reaching usage caps. Plus users will get higher limits, while Pro users will have unlimited access and additional tools. Enterprise and education customers will gain access within a week.
Microsoft is integrating GPT-5 across its products immediately, including Microsoft 365 Copilot, consumer-facing Copilot tools, and Azure AI Foundry for developers. The new model is also available via OpenAI’s API in three versions — GPT-5, GPT-5-mini, and GPT-5-nano — to suit varying cost and performance needs.
Enterprise testers, such as cloud storage company Box, report that GPT-5 excels at interpreting complex math and logic in lengthy documents, a task previous models struggled with. OpenAI says its goal is to make AI feel more natural and human-like to interact with, offering users the experience of having a team of experts at their fingertips.
Source: CNBC