OpenAI’s newest AI model, GPT-5, has barely been out for a day, and the early verdict from many users is far from glowing. Despite being billed as a major leap in intelligence and reasoning, the rollout has sparked an unexpectedly negative wave of reactions online.
A Big Stage, Big Promises — and a Reality Check
During a one-hour livestream, CEO Sam Altman unveiled GPT-5 with a polished demo, touting major upgrades: sharper reasoning, stronger multi-step problem-solving, and more personalized interactions. Internally, it was positioned as a “PhD-level” successor to the GPT-4o series — a model meant to feel like a genuine intellectual step forward.
But within hours, Reddit and other social platforms lit up with criticism. One post bluntly titled “GPT-5 is horrible” shot up to thousands of upvotes and over a thousand comments, with many calling for the return of GPT-4.
What’s Fueling the Backlash
User complaints have clustered around three main points:
- Declining Answer Quality – Several users report that GPT-5 gives less useful or less precise answers than its predecessor.
- Slower Responses – The model’s outputs appear to take longer to generate, frustrating those used to faster replies.
- Tighter Limits for Paying Customers – ChatGPT Plus subscribers now face a 200-message weekly cap in GPT-5’s new “Thinking” mode, which is designed for more complex reasoning.
Adding to the irritation, GPT-5 is now the default model for Plus members, replacing older options entirely. OpenAI insists the new system can adjust its own “reasoning depth” as needed, but some feel this consolidation removes flexibility.
A few have likened the situation to “AI shrinkflation” — higher benchmark scores on paper, but a worse real-world experience.
Was the Hype the Problem?
Part of the backlash may come from the months-long buildup. Altman teased GPT-5’s launch with a Star Wars-inspired social post, framing it as a groundbreaking shift. While test results show measurable improvements, many users see the change as incremental rather than transformative — especially when compared to the shock-and-awe release of ChatGPT in late 2022.
Whether GPT-5’s reception improves over time may depend on how quickly OpenAI can respond to this wave of early feedback — and whether users start to feel the upgrade delivers on its lofty promises.
