OpenAI’s GPT-5, launched amid high expectations as a "PhD-level" AI, faced widespread criticism for underwhelming performance and a bland personality compared to previous versions. The forced retirement of the popular GPT-4o model angered many users who relied on it, sparking petitions and backlash. Technical glitches, including a malfunctioning model router, further degraded the experience.
CEO Sam Altman publicly apologized and reinstated GPT-4o for paid users while promising improvements. The rocky rollout exposed a gap between AI hype and real-world usability, highlighting challenges for AI companies transitioning from research to consumer products. Despite strong technical capabilities, GPT-5’s launch underscored the importance of balancing innovation with user expectations and emotional connection.
