In the world of artificial intelligence, innovation often comes with its share of challenges and controversies. This was evident during a recent Reddit AMA session featuring OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and key members of the GPT-5 team. The AMA, which took place on the r/ChatGPT subreddit, saw users questioning the new GPT-5 model and clamoring for the return of its predecessor, GPT-4o.
One of the standout features of GPT-5 is its real-time router, an innovative component that selects the appropriate model for a given prompt. The router can either provide quick responses or take additional time to "think" through answers. However, several AMA participants expressed dissatisfaction with GPT-5, claiming it performed worse than GPT-4o. Altman attributed this perceived decline in performance to the router's malfunction during the model's launch on Thursday.
"We are making some interventions to how the decision boundary works that should help you get the right model more often," Altman assured users. "We will make it more transparent about which model is answering a given query." He also noted that GPT-5 would "seem smarter starting today" as the router issue had been resolved.
The AMA also saw users passionately advocating for the return of GPT-4o for Plus subscribers. In response, Altman promised to explore the possibility, stating, "We are looking into letting Plus users continue to use 4o. We are trying to gather more data on the tradeoffs."
In addition to addressing GPT-5 concerns, Altman pledged to double rate limits for Plus users as the model's rollout nears completion. This move should provide users with ample opportunities to experiment with and adapt to the new model without worrying about exceeding their monthly prompt limit.
The AMA also touched on the infamous "chart crime" that occurred during the live presentation. The chart, which displayed a lower benchmark score with a much taller bar, quickly became the subject of ridicule. While Altman did not address the chart during the AMA, he had previously referred to it as a "mega chart screwup" on X. Interestingly, the charts in the published blog post were accurate.
Despite the chart mishap, GPT-5 reviewer Simon Willison, who had early access to the model, praised its performance. However, he also highlighted that turning data into a table was a "good example of a GPT-5 failure."
As the AMA came to a close, Altman reiterated his commitment to addressing user concerns and improving the GPT-5 model. "We will continue to work to get things stable and will keep listening to feedback," he promised. With OpenAI's dedication to refining GPT-5 and incorporating user feedback, the future of AI communication promises to be both innovative and responsive to user needs.