OpenAI Launches ChatGPT-5: The AI That Claims PhD-Level Expertise
In a revealing conversation with Ken Coleman, financial expert and CEO Dave Ramsey opened up about his journey from
OpenAI has just dropped what could be the most significant AI release since ChatGPT’s debut. The ChatGPT-5 release, launched Thursday, isn’t just another incremental upgrade (it’s being positioned as a “legitimate PhD-level expert in anything” that could fundamentally change how we work, learn, and solve problems).
A Two-Year Wait Worth Having
After more than two years since GPT-4’s release in March 2023, OpenAI has finally unveiled its next-generation model. CEO Sam Altman didn’t mince words about the upgrade: “I tried going back to GPT-4, and it was quite miserable.”
The timing couldn’t be more strategic. OpenAI now serves 700 million weekly users and is reportedly in talks for a staggering $500 billion valuation. This isn’t just a product launch, it’s a statement of intent from a company that’s become a genuine tech empire.
What Makes ChatGPT-5 Different
Unlike previous releases focused purely on raw intelligence, ChatGPT-5 prioritises user experience above all else. The model promises to be “smarter, faster, and a lot more useful,” particularly excelling in writing, coding, and healthcare applications.
Key improvements include:
- Reduced hallucinations (The model fabricates incorrect answers far less frequently)
- Advanced reasoning – First time free users get access to AI that “thinks” before responding
- Better safety – Instead of refusing risky questions, it provides safe, high-level responses
- Seamless integration – Connects with Gmail and Google Calendar for personalised assistance
Perhaps most impressively, OpenAI demonstrated “vibe coding” which users can create entire web applications simply by describing what they want in plain English. Within seconds, ChatGPT-5 generated two different French-learning apps complete with flashcards, quizzes, and progress tracking.
The Ph.D. in Your Pocket
Altman’s bold claim that ChatGPT-5 offers “PhD-level expertise in anything” isn’t just marketing hyperbole. Early testing by enterprise partner Box revealed the model’s ability to handle complex mathematical and logical reasoning within lengthy documents – tasks that consistently stumped previous AI systems.
“The model is able to retain way more of the information that it’s looking at, and then use a much higher level of reasoning and logic capabilities to be able to make decisions,” explains Box CEO Aaron Levie, calling it a “complete breakthrough.”
Available to Everyone, Including Free Users
In a move that could reshape the AI landscape, OpenAI is making ChatGPT-5 available to everyone -including free users—from day one. This marks the first time free users have accessed OpenAI’s most advanced reasoning capabilities.
The rollout includes:
- Free users: Limited access to ChatGPT-5, falling back to GPT-5 mini after usage caps
- Plus users: Higher usage limits with enhanced features
- Pro users: Unlimited access to both ChatGPT-5 and ChatGPT-5 Pro
- Enterprise users: Full access rolling out within a week
More Than Just Smarter—More Personal
The ChatGPT-5 release introduces features designed to make AI feel genuinely personal. Users can now customise colour schemes with accent colors that change conversation bubbles, voice buttons, and highlighted text. More intriguingly, ChatGPT now offers four distinct personality types:
- Cynic: Sarcastic and dry, delivering blunt help with wit
- Robot: Precise, efficient, and emotionless responses
- Listener: Warm and laid-back with calm clarity
- Nerd: Playful and curious, celebrating knowledge and discovery
These additions leverage the recently introduced “Memories” feature, allowing ChatGPT to reference previous conversations and build context over time. Users can also integrate with their existing digital ecosystems through Gmail and Calendar access, with ChatGPT able to plan schedules, notify about missed emails, and draw from personal data.
The goal is clear: transform ChatGPT from a generic tool into “your AI”—making switching to competitors like Google’s Gemini or Anthropic’s Claude increasingly unattractive.
The Strategic Masterstroke
OpenAI appears to be learning from its greatest success story. ChatGPT originally took off not because it was the smartest AI available, but because it made existing technology accessible and enjoyable to use. ChatGPT-5 follows the same playbook—prioritising user experience over pure intelligence metrics.
The company has also simplified its previously confusing model lineup by eliminating the model picker entirely. Gone are the days of choosing between GPT-4o, GPT-4.1, GPT-4.5, and countless other variants. ChatGPT-5 automatically adjusts its reasoning power based on query complexity through a “single auto-switching system,” though paid users retain access to specialised models like GPT-5 Thinking for complex reasoning tasks.
Additionally, OpenAI is retiring standard voice mode in favour of enhanced advanced voice mode, offering “near-unlimited” usage for paid subscribers and hours of additional access for free users. The upgraded voice system can now adapt to speaking styles and works with custom GPTs.
Industry Impact and Competition
While the ChatGPT-5 release achieves state-of-the-art performance on numerous AI benchmarks, competitors like Google Gemini, Anthropic’s Claude, and xAI’s Grok still outperform in specific areas. However, OpenAI seems less concerned with benchmark supremacy than with creating an AI assistant that people actually want to use daily.
The model is already being integrated across Microsoft’s ecosystem, including Microsoft 365 Copilot and Azure AI Foundry for developers. Enterprise partnerships with companies like Bain & Company, Mattel, Moderna, and Harvard demonstrate OpenAI’s push beyond consumer applications into institutional adoption.
Artificial General Assistant
Before achieving artificial general intelligence – AI that matches human performance across all cognitive tasks – OpenAI appears focused on building what might be called an “artificial general assistant.” This represents a shift from pursuing raw intelligence to creating AI that seamlessly integrates into every aspect of digital life.
With physical OpenAI devices in development under iPhone designer Jony Ive’s leadership, and federal agencies receiving enterprise ChatGPT accounts at no cost, OpenAI is positioning itself not just as an AI company, but as the infrastructure layer for the intelligence economy.
A New Era for AI Assistants
ChatGPT-5 represents more than a model upgrade (it’s OpenAI’s bid to become indispensable). By making PhD-level AI accessible to everyone while seamlessly integrating with existing workflows, the company is betting that convenience and personalisation matter more than pure intelligence.
Whether the ChatGPT-5 release lives up to Altman’s ambitious promises remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: the AI arms race just entered a new phase, and OpenAI is making its strongest play yet to ensure everyone comes along for the ride.
ChatGPT-5 is available now at chat.openai.com for all user tiers.
