OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has made a huge mark in the world of generative AI with the launch of the company’s next model
February 13th, 2025
Altman has also tweeted about OpenAI’s roadmap that includes the GPT-4.5 and GPT-5 models. OpenAI’s making it so that the o3 reasoning model will actually go back to unified models with all the leading flagship AI models. Also, the upcoming GPT-5 is going to be free to everyone, on limited terms.
Moving toward Unity Models
Similarly, referring to the recent OpenAI launches and changes in them as shooting without aim. There would not be o-models for convenience; they would simply fit into the main releases. This is entirely going to make it a more integrated experience of AI through the tiers of users.
There is no exact date when the user will have GPT-5, but the announcement from Altman suggests it will not be long now. This model has never been as heavily delayed from the last major flagship model from OpenAI, which was GPT-4, released in March 2023. Many hoped for it to be here by now, but it seems very likely that it will finally release sometime this year.
Accessing GPT-5 for All Free Users
The most promising part of Altman’s sign is that the flagship AI model of OpenAI, GPT-5, is going to be available to users of the free-tier subscription. Altman confirmed this in his post, stating, “The free tier of ChatGPT will get unlimited chat access to GPT-5 at the standard intelligence setting, subject to abuse thresholds.” In other words, all consumers will be able to interact with GPT-5 without a financial obligation.
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Yet more benefits will be coming for paid users at OpenAI. The Plus plan subscribers will have access to a higher intelligence version of GPT-5, while Pro users will benefit from an even better model. It will be a paid plan which will offer a greater variety of depth and intelligence all while expanding its AI functionalities.
Expanding the AI Capabilities: Voice, Canvas, and More
OpenAI has a lot more lined up to add to its collection of features that will enhance the user experience beyond GPT-5. Other upcoming features include interaction through voice, the canvas for visual interaction, search improvements, and deep research. These all point toward the direction of bringing AI closer to users and making it closer to what is efficient and natural.
Deep Research is one of the most interesting additions, a new AI agent of OpenAI dedicated to conducting thorough research on behalf of users. Only last week, Deep Research was released to the public, albeit currently being made available exclusively to ChatGPT Pro subscribers. In an update from Altman though, OpenAI seems also bent on making this feature available to free and Plus-tier users.
Deep Research: Free but Time Limited
Deep Research, using the o3 model, is aimed at minimizing the workload of users by doing deep research within a few minutes. Although OpenAI wants to open this feature for all users, there will be certain restrictions on the use of Deep Research. Free-tier users will use it twice in a month, while Plus subscribers will use it ten times. Altman reassured that OpenAI intends to increase the limits over time and make it more available.
Altman has interestingly stated that Deep Research is, deep down in value terms, a product that should be charged for $1,000 per month, and this is what makes OpenAI offer it freely. This was Altman’s possible subtle reference to the recent Musk offer to acquire OpenAI: A $97 billion buyout proposal that Altman immediately rejected with “No, thank you.”
The Future of OpenAI Models
The push for making AI access public has become stronger with the blossoming of GPT-5, while still offering something for their paying customers. This return consists of an elegant strategic shift in the company in discontinuing their company-wide models and could later act as a pathway to their future AI advancements. As OpenAI strives to further efforts in AI research and application, the rollouts of features like Deep Research, voice interaction, and enhanced elements of search will provide new paradigms for future AI tools.
Although Altman has declared that there is still no official date for the launch of GPT-5, it would seem there are strong signals that this is looming on the horizon. This rollout is highly anticipated in the AI community, and the offering of a free version of its primary model by OpenAI is a tectonic shift in the AI ecosystem. For everyone from the layperson to the professional requiring high-end AI capability, OpenAI’s newest round of developments looks poised to deliver powerful and intelligent solutions.
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