OpenAI’s GPT-5 Faces Mixed Reactions Just Hours After Launch
Less than a day after OpenAI officially rolled out its highly anticipated GPT-5 AI model, early reviews from users suggest that the release may not have lived up to the company’s ambitious promises.
Launch Highlights and First Impressions
In a one-hour livestream, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman showcased GPT-5’s advanced capabilities, including improved reasoning skills, multi-step problem-solving, and personalized responses. The model was presented as a “PhD-level” upgrade to the GPT-4o series, signaling a major step forward in artificial intelligence technology.
However, the excitement was short-lived. Within hours, social media platforms — especially Reddit — were flooded with criticism. A viral thread titled “GPT-5 is horrible” gained almost 3,000 upvotes and over 1,200 comments, with many users expressing disappointment and calling for the return of older models like GPT-4.
Concerns Over Performance and Restrictions
User complaints range from slower response speeds to a noticeable decline in answer quality. A major point of contention is GPT-5’s new “Thinking” mode, designed for complex reasoning but limited to just 200 messages per week for ChatGPT Plus subscribers.
Adding to the frustration, Plus users now have fewer model options after OpenAI merged its offerings under GPT-5. The company insists the model can adjust reasoning depth automatically, but critics argue this change has reduced flexibility for paying customers.
Some have compared the rollout to “AI shrinkflation” — pointing out that while GPT-5 scores higher in benchmark tests, its real-world usefulness feels reduced. Others are unhappy that older, more stable models were discontinued instead of being offered alongside the upgrade.
Marketing Hype vs. Reality
The backlash comes after weeks of heavy marketing, including a Star Wars-themed teaser from Altman hinting at a revolutionary breakthrough. While GPT-5 does show measurable improvements in controlled tests, many users say the upgrade feels incremental rather than transformative — especially when compared to the game-changing release of ChatGPT in 2022.
