After months of anticipation, the launch of GPT-5 proved to be a solid improvement rather than the revolutionary leap some expected. This has led technology experts to reassess their expectations regarding how quickly we will reach “superintelligence,” and raised questions about whether the true pace of progress is slower than industry leaders claim.
Article contents:
- Introduction: From high anticipation to modest reality
- GPT-5 release: An incremental improvement, not a major revolution
- Resetting expectations: Is “superintelligence” out of reach?
- Expert opinions: Between great engineering and doomsday prophecies
- Sam Altman’s defense: True power lies in complex tasks
- Financial priorities: Is OpenAI starting to count costs?
- Conclusion: Steady but consistent progress
- Frequently asked questions
Introduction: From high anticipation to modest reality
For months, tech workers and artificial intelligence enthusiasts built huge expectations for ChatGPT’s next major upgrade. OpenAI’s decision to name the new system “GPT-5” encouraged comparisons to the 2023 launch of GPT-4, which stunned the world and put ChatGPT on a path to 700 million weekly users. But after GPT-5 was finally launched on August 7 and tested over the following days, the general impression in the industry was that it is a welcome improvement, but not a giant leap forward.
GPT-5 release: An incremental improvement, not a major revolution
On X (formerly Twitter), the preferred platform for the AI community, tech workers posted screenshots showing that GPT-5 can perform tasks like coding and gathering research on complex topics better than previous systems. However, they also shared evidence that it still falls into the same traps that characterized previous chat bots, such as stumbling over riddles or confidently claiming incorrect information.
This lack of “fireworks” has prompted some tech insiders to reset their expectations for how fast AI capabilities will improve, and to question statements from industry leaders like OpenAI CEO Sam Altman suggesting that systems matching human intelligence in most tasks are close at hand.
Resetting expectations: Is “superintelligence” out of reach?
In recent years, AI executives have urged tech workers, lawmakers, and consumers to expect rapid breakthroughs rather than gradual progress. Even some who believe AI is on track to improve so quickly that it could outpace human control within a few years said GPT-5 pushed back their expectations for when that might happen. Meanwhile, others in the tech industry said this is fresh evidence that such fears are unfounded.
Expert opinions: Between great engineering and doomsday prophecies
Expert opinions: Between great engineering and doomsday prophecies
Prominent tech investor David Sacks wrote that OpenAI’s launch was a step forward, but also proof that predictions of a pioneering AI system rapidly pulling ahead of the rest and achieving “superintelligence” were wrong. He wrote: “Leading models are clustering around similar performance benchmarks,” and they still need humans to tell them what to do and check their work. He added: “This is a product of great engineering and should be celebrated. It is not fodder for apocalyptic prophecies.”
Somok Shashidar, an AI researcher, said many in the industry expected GPT-5 to be like “conversing with another highly intelligent human, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.”
Sam Altman’s defense: True power lies in complex tasks
During a dinner with journalists, Sam Altman rejected the notion that GPT-5 was not a major upgrade. He said demand from companies using OpenAI’s technology in their own products doubled within 48 hours of the GPT-5 launch, prompting his company to hunt for more computer chips to power queries.
Altman pointed out that assessing recent progress requires working closely with GPT-5 on difficult technical problems. He said: “This is a model that scientists say is doing research at the level of the best in their field.” He claimed there is less room to improve the technology in casual conversation, so people who use the chatbot primarily to discuss their personal lives might not notice GPT-5’s increased capabilities.
Financial priorities: Is OpenAI starting to count costs?
GPT-5 also signals that OpenAI is starting to prioritize financial concerns, attempting to cut its massive costs as it burns through more than $30 billion in venture capital funding. The new software is designed to adjust the amount of computing power it spends to answer a user query, trying to use less for simple questions but more for complex tasks. This allows OpenAI to be more efficient by lowering the cost of certain conversations.
However, Altman insisted that the company will not abandon its goal of building more capable artificial intelligence, and will achieve further breakthroughs in the future regardless of cost. He said: “We will spend probably more than any company has ever spent on anything.”
Conclusion: Steady but consistent progress
The ongoing debate over GPT-5 reflects a maturation in the conversation around artificial intelligence. We have moved from the initial phase of fascination to a phase of critical evaluation. While the progress made by companies like OpenAI remains astounding, the launch of GPT-5 serves as a reminder that the path to artificial general or superintelligence may be longer and more gradual than many believed. It is not a failure, but a return to reality, where true progress takes time, effort, and precise engineering, rather than just magical leaps.
Frequently asked questions
Q1: Was GPT-5 disappointing?
A: For some, yes. It was seen as a solid improvement, but not the revolutionary leap many expected, leading to a reassessment of expectations regarding the pace of AI progress.
Q2: What is “superintelligence”?
A: It is a theoretical concept of artificial intelligence that significantly surpasses the smartest human minds in almost every field, including scientific creativity, general wisdom, and social skills.
Q3: How did Sam Altman defend GPT-5?
A: He said the model’s true capabilities show in complex technical and scientific tasks rather than casual conversation, noting that commercial demand for the model doubled following its launch.
