GPT-5: Everything We Know About OpenAI's Next Release

The Countdown Has Begun

GPT-5 is almost here, and we're hearing good things. The early reactions from at least one person who's used the unreleased version were extremely positive. That's good news for OpenAI. The ChatGPT creator has been under pressure to show major gains from its next big artificial intelligence model.

Release Date: August 2025 (But It Keeps Shifting)

While OpenAI hasn't specified exactly when GPT-5 will be released inside ChatGPT and for app developer customers, CEO Sam Altman has started publicly discussing how much he's enjoying using the unreleased version. OpenAI is expected to release its next big model — GPT-5 — in August, Axios has learned.

The timeline has been anything but stable. Based on leaks and hints found online showing that OpenAI is almost releasing its newest AI model. One of the clues was an upload on X by engineer Tibor Blaho. Blaho shared a screenshot of the configuration file dated July 13, 2025 which mentions GPT-5 Reasoning Alpha.

Earlier this year, Altman suggested a summer 2025 release, saying GPT-5 would arrive "probably coming sometime this summer." However, the company has faced several delays from initial expectations, with the release plan shifting multiple times as OpenAI works to perfect the integration of various technologies.

The Unified Intelligence Revolution

The biggest rumor—and perhaps the most significant—centers around GPT-5's unified architecture. The model aims to fulfill Altman's plan of integrating traditional "GPT"-branded large language models with the company's "o" line of reasoning models into one model or chat interface, creating what Altman has called "magic unified intelligence."

Today's updates reflect the direction our models are heading in: we're converging the specialized reasoning capabilities of the o-series with more of the natural conversational abilities and tool use of the GPT‑series. This means users won't need to choose between different models for different tasks—GPT-5 will automatically determine when to use reasoning capabilities versus faster conversational responses.

What This Means for Users

By integrating these two systems into one platform: Users gain access via an intuitive interface. No need exists for juggling multiple tools. Specialized knowledge becomes less necessary. Instead of switching between models, GPT-5 will be intelligent enough to know "when to think for a long time or not, and generally be useful for a very wide range of tasks."

Capabilities That Could Change Everything

Advanced Reasoning Integration

GPT-5 will combine breakthroughs from all models to create a unified model, with the integration of o3's chain-of-thought reasoning capabilities. With the integration of o3's chain-of-thought reasoning, GPT-5 should offer more reliable responses across complex tasks, making it particularly promising for enterprise AI applications where accuracy matters.

Multimodal Capabilities

GPT-5 will incorporate voice, Canvas, search, deep research, and more, building on the foundation laid by GPT-4o's text, image, and voice interactions. GPT-5 is expected to refine OpenAI's voice model and potentially add video processing, building on SORA, OpenAI's text-to-video model.

Extended Context and Memory

Rumors suggest GPT-5 will feature a million-token context window, dramatically expanding its ability to process and remember information across long conversations. This would be especially useful for complex tasks like analyzing year-long expense files or maintaining context across extended research sessions.

Reduced Hallucinations

GPT-5 is also rumored to be addressing hallucinatory problems and misunderstandings. OpenAI has prioritized reasoning improvements, with GPT-5 expected to significantly reduce hallucinations and improve structured problem-solving.

The Leaks Are Getting Specific

Recent leaks have provided concrete evidence that GPT-5 is in advanced testing phases:

• References to a new model called "gpt-5-reasoning-alpha-2025-07-13" have been spotted, suggesting the model was finalized on July 13th
• Independent researchers discovered a mention of GPT-5 in OpenAI's internal BioSec Benchmark repository, suggesting the model is already being trialed in sensitive domains like biosecurity
• OpenAI is testing o3-alpha, which is better than o3 and o3-pro in coding and front-end designing

Pricing and Access: Free for Everyone?

Perhaps the most surprising rumor involves pricing. OpenAI has announced that all ChatGPT users will have free access to GPT-5 once it launches. Even free-tier users will enjoy unlimited chat sessions at standard intelligence settings, subject only to abuse thresholds designed to prevent misuse.

However, there will be tiered access:

• Free users: Unlimited access at the standard intelligence level
• ChatGPT Plus subscribers: Access to higher intelligence levels
• ChatGPT Pro subscribers: Access to the most advanced reasoning capabilities

The Transition: GPT-4.5 "Orion" First

OpenAI is set to release GPT-4.5, dubbed 'Orion,' in weeks, marking the end of its non-chain-of-thought models, with GPT-5 coming soon after. GPT-4.5 represents the final model without advanced reasoning capabilities, serving as a bridge to GPT-5's more sophisticated architecture.

Industry Impact and Competition

The race to create the biggest and best AI models is accelerating as the Trump administration has said the U.S. must do "whatever it takes" to beat China. OpenAI is facing increasing pressure from rivals such as Chinese AI lab DeepSeek that have adopted an "open" approach to launching models.

If GPT-4 shook the world, GPT-5 is poised to flip it on its axis. This isn't just another upgrade. This is a paradigm shift. Early reports suggest GPT-5 has already exceeded OpenAI's internal benchmarks, with employees reportedly blown away by its accuracy, performance, and versatility.

Stay tuned to Uristocrat for the latest updates on GPT-5's release and capabilities as this story continues to develop.