
OpenAI Brings GPT-4.1 And GPT-4.1 Mini For Paid And Free Users: All Details
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OpenAI is bringing the new iteration of the GPT 4.1 model that available for both paid and free users with different limits and features.
OpenAI has announced the latest AI models, GPT-4.1 and GPT-4.1 Mini, now available the to ChatGPT users. These models are now being integrated into the ChatGPT interface, significantly broadening access for both free and subscription-based users. This decision comes in response to widespread user demand and the increasing need for advanced AI tools, particularly in software development and technical tasks.
The GPT-4.1 model is now available to subscribers of ChatGPT Plus, Pro and Team plans, while GPT-4.1 Mini can be accessed by all users, including those on the free tier. In parallel, OpenAI has confirmed that it will be removing the GPT-4o Mini model from ChatGPT, streamlining its lineup and prioritizing newer models that offer superior performance.
Designed with developers in mind, GPT-4.1 provides faster response times and enhanced capabilities in areas like coding, debugging and web development. It outperforms the now-retired GPT-4o Mini in both speed and command execution, making it particularly well-suited for users who rely on AI for technical productivity.
Despite these improvements, OpenAI has clarified that GPT-4.1 does not qualify as a 'frontier model" — a classification reserved for models that introduce fundamentally new capabilities or interaction modalities. Therefore, it is not held to the same stringent safety reporting standards as frontier models.
In addressing questions about the model's security and safety protocols, Johannes Heidecke, OpenAI's Head of Safety Systems, stated via a post on X, 'GPT-4.1 builds on the safety work and mitigations developed for GPT-4o. Across our standard safety evaluations, GPT-4.1 performs at parity with GPT-4o, showing that improvements can be delivered without introducing new safety risks."
Heidecke further emphasised that, while GPT-4.1 represents a notable upgrade, it does not surpass the 'o3" level in terms of intelligence or interaction capabilities. 'It didn't bring in new ways of interacting with AI models," he added, explaining why GPT-4.1, though improved, remains within the bounds of OpenAI's existing model safety classification.
This development also follows OpenAI's earlier move on April 30 to phase out the GPT-4.0 model entirely from ChatGPT. The decision was aimed at reducing confusion among users by simplifying model options and focusing on newer, more capable versions.
First Published:
May 19, 2025, 08:10 IST

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