OpenAI Announces Roadmap for GPT-4.5 and GPT-5

OpenAI has outlined its plans to release GPT-4.5 and GPT-5 to simplify product offerings and enhance AI usability. Sam Altman, OpenAI’s chief, shared the update in a post on X.

“We want AI to ‘just work’ for you; we realise how complicated our model and product offerings have gotten,” Altman said. He also expressed dissatisfaction with the current model picker, saying, “We hate the model picker as much as you do and want to return to magic unified intelligence.”

GPT-4.5, internally referred to as Orion, will be the next release and the last non-chain-of-thought model. Following this, OpenAI plans to unify the o-series and GPT-series models, enabling systems that can integrate all tools and determine optimal thinking time for tasks.

GPT-5 will be introduced in ChatGPT and the API as a system incorporating various OpenAI technologies, including o3. OpenAI will not release o3 as a standalone model. Altman said that GPT-4.5 or GPT-5 could be released within weeks or months.

ChatGPT’s free tier will offer unlimited access to GPT-5 at the standard intelligence level, subject to abuse thresholds. “Plus subscribers will be able to run GPT-5 at a higher level of intelligence, and Pro subscribers will be able to run GPT-5 at an even higher level of intelligence,” Altman said. These models will include capabilities such as voice, canvas, search, and deep research.

Meanwhile, according to recent reports, OpenAI is progressing in its plan to develop custom AI chips to reduce reliance on NVIDIA. The company is preparing to finalise the design of its first in-house chip in the coming months and intends to send it for fabrication at TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company).

OpenAI is also engaged in discussions with SoftBank to secure an investment of up to $25 billion. 

Most recently, X chief Elon Musk and a group of investors made a bid to buy OpenAI for around $97.4 billion. The bid aims to acquire the nonprofit organisation that controls OpenAI. The group includes Musk’s AI company, xAI, investment firms like Vy Capital, and notable investors such as Ari Emanuel.

However, Altman reaffirmed that the company is not up for sale, stating, “The OpenAI mission is not for sale.”