The Reality Behind OpenAI’s Latest Release
OpenAI just dropped GPT-4.5, but the splash it made looks more like a ripple. After months of hype and waiting, many users and experts feel let down by what seems like small steps forward rather than the giant leap they hoped for.
What OpenAI Promised vs What We Got
The company talked up GPT-4.5 as their “most knowledgeable model yet,” claiming it would feel more natural and show “improved emotional intelligence.” Sam Altman, OpenAI’s CEO, even said, “It is the first model that feels like talking to a thoughtful person to me.”
But when we look at what’s actually here, the improvements seem thin. The main selling points boil down to:
- It “hallucinates less” (makes fewer factual errors)
- It “feels more natural” in conversation
- It shows better “emotional intelligence”
For a model that OpenAI admits is “giant” and “expensive,” these gains feel small, especially with the steep price tag attached. Pro users must pay $200 just to try it a week early, and the API costs are even more shocking.
The Numbers Don’t Look Good
When we check how GPT-4.5 stacks up against other AI models on standard tests, the results don’t match the hype:
On the AIME’24 math benchmark, GPT-4.5 falls behind not only DeepSeek V3 (an open-source model released two months ago) but also gets beaten by Grock 3 Mini. This is odd since OpenAI has always prided itself on strong math skills.
The Aider coding benchmark puts GPT-4.5 at just 45%, while DeepSeek V3 scored 48%. This small edge might not seem like much until you see the price difference: running the benchmark cost $183.18 with GPT-4.5 versus just 34 cents with DeepSeek V3. That’s 500 times more expensive for worse results.
Compared to GPT-4o, the new model costs 12 times more for what OpenAI claims is only 2 to 4 times better performance.
Signs of Rushed Development
The presentation itself raised eyebrows. Instead of showing off amazing new abilities, the livestream seemed to downplay expectations. They mostly compared GPT-4.5 to their own GPT-4o rather than setting it against the best models from other companies.
This approach feels like damage control. By limiting comparisons, OpenAI hoped we wouldn’t notice that other AI labs have caught up or even pulled ahead.
The focus on “emotional intelligence” and feeling “more natural” sounds nice, but these qualities are hard to measure. They’re also not what most power users care about most.
The Innovation Gap
What’s most concerning isn’t just this one release but what it might mean for OpenAI’s future. DeepSeek, with far fewer resources, put out a model that beats GPT-4.5 on key tasks. Meanwhile, DeepSeek continues to publish research papers about more efficient ways to train and run AI models.
OpenAI seems to rely more on scaling up existing methods—making models bigger—rather than finding smarter ways to do things. With GPT-4.5 described as “a huge model” that they had “trouble making work,” this approach may be hitting its limits.
The Price Problem
The cost issue can’t be ignored. At 500 times the price of DeepSeek V3 for similar or worse performance, GPT-4.5’s value is questionable. It’s like paying luxury car prices for a basic sedan.
This price gap becomes more stark when we see DeepSeek offering a 50% discount on all their APIs during what they call “open source week,” where they’re also sharing code about GPU efficiency and optimization.
What’s Missing?
Remember when OpenAI wowed us with cool demos like turning napkin sketches into websites? Or when each new model brought clear, measurable jumps in ability? GPT-4.5 lacks that magic.
Where are the breakthrough features? Where are the “wow” moments that made OpenAI stand out? Instead, we get vague claims about feeling “more natural” and having “better emotional intelligence.”
For a company that once led the AI race with clear vision and ambition, this shift to soft, hard-to-verify claims feels like lowered standards.
The End of OpenAI’s Lead?
The bigger story here might be that OpenAI’s once-solid lead in AI is shrinking fast. Open-source models like DeepSeek V3 now match or beat OpenAI’s best on key tasks, while costing much less to use.
This matters not just for tech nerds but for anyone who wants to use AI tools. If other companies can make models that work just as well for a fraction of the price, OpenAI’s business model faces real pressure.
The Wall Ahead
OpenAI seems to have hit what some call “the scaling wall.” For years, they made their models better mostly by making them bigger—using more data and more computing power. But that approach has limits, both in terms of cost and what it can achieve.
Without fresh ideas about how to train models more efficiently, OpenAI risks being caught and passed by smaller but more innovative teams.
Where Do We Go From Here?
For users, this means it’s a good time to try other AI options. DeepSeek V3, Claude, and other models might offer better value depending on what you need.
For OpenAI, this should be a wake-up call. Being first to market with good AI helped them build a lead, but keeping that lead will take more than just bigger models and vague claims about feeling “more natural.”
The AI race is just heating up, and GPT-4.5 shows that even the biggest names can stumble. What matters now isn’t who has the most data or money, but who can find smarter ways to make AI work better for less.
As we watch this play out, one thing is clear: the days of OpenAI having no real competition are over. And that might be good news for everyone who uses these tools.
What do you think about GPT-4.5? Have you tried it yet? Share your thoughts about whether it lives up to the hype or falls short.
FAQs
What is GPT-4.5?
GPT-4.5 is OpenAI’s latest language model, released as an update to their GPT-4 series. It’s being marketed as their “most knowledgeable model yet” with supposedly improved emotional intelligence and more natural conversational abilities
How much does GPT-4.5 cost?
GPT-4.5 is initially available only to Pro users who pay $200 per month. The API costs are significantly higher than previous models – about 12 times more expensive than GPT-4o and approximately 500 times more expensive than competing models like DeepSeek V3.
How does GPT-4.5 compare to other AI models?
Based on benchmark testing, GPT-4.5 underperforms compared to some competitors. It scores lower than DeepSeek V3 (an open-source model) on math and coding benchmarks, and even gets beaten by Grock 3 Mini on some math tests.
What are GPT-4.5’s main improvements?
According to OpenAI, the main improvements are that it “hallucinates less” (makes fewer factual errors), feels more natural in conversation, and has better “emotional intelligence.” However, these claims are difficult to measure objectively.
Is GPT-4.5 worth upgrading to?
For most users, the high cost may not justify the modest improvements. Given that cheaper or free alternatives like DeepSeek V3 perform as well or better on many tasks, GPT-4.5 currently offers questionable value.
When will GPT-4.5 be available to regular ChatGPT Plus users?
OpenAI has stated that GPT-4.5 will come to Plus users “in the near future,” but hasn’t provided a specific timeline.
Why is GPT-4.5 so expensive to run?
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman described it as “a giant, expensive model.” The company appears to be using a scaling approach (making models bigger) rather than finding more efficient training methods, which significantly increases computing costs.
Does this release signal problems for OpenAI?
Many industry observers see GPT-4.5’s underwhelming performance as a sign that OpenAI may be losing its competitive edge. The fact that smaller companies with fewer resources can now match or exceed their performance suggests potential innovation problems at OpenAI.
What alternatives should I consider instead of GPT-4.5?
DeepSeek V3 offers comparable or better performance at a fraction of the cost. Other options include Claude from Anthropic and various open-source models that continue to improve rapidly.
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