GPT-5 explained: What it can do and why it matters for ChatGPT users in 5 points

India Today

2 days ago

At an event on Thursday night, OpenAI unveiled GPT-5, and called it its 'best AI system yet.' This new model is not just faster or more intelligent on paper, but it is designed to be more useful in everyday life, according to OpenAI. It brings improvements across coding, writing, health, visual understanding, and reasoning, while also making ChatGPT feel more like a helpful human partner than a computer program. For everyday users, GPT-5 is now the default model in ChatGPT, replacing earlier versions like GPT-4o and GPT-4.5. While free users get limited access, Plus subscribers can use it more, and Pro subscribers get an even more powerful 'GPT-5 Pro' version with extended reasoning abilities.
advertisementHere's what makes GPT-5 stand out, explained in five simple points.A unified system that can adaptOpenAI says that one of GPT-5's biggest shifts is how it thinks. Instead of choosing between different models manually, GPT-5 blends them into one unified system. It uses a smart router that decides in real time whether to give a quick reply or think longer for a more complex answer.
The router looks at the type of conversation, its complexity, the tools required, and even explicit instructions, so if you say 'think hard about this,' it will spend more time reasoning before responding. This system keeps learning from how people use it, switching models when needed and improving over time.When usage limits are reached, GPT-5 automatically moves to a smaller but still capable 'mini' version so the conversation doesn't stop. OpenAI says it plans to integrate all these capabilities into a single model in the future.Smarter, more accurate, and better for real-world questionsGPT-5 has been trained to be more reliable. It is less likely to make factual errors, about 45 per cent fewer than GPT-4o, according to OpenAI. And when in 'thinking' mode, its accuracy jumps even higher. This matters for open-ended questions, where earlier models sometimes guessed or over-confidently made things up.It has also learned to be honest about its limits. In tests with impossible or underspecified tasks, GPT-5 was less likely to bluff an answer compared to older models. For example, when images were removed from a visual reasoning test, GPT-5 admitted it could not see them, while other models invented details.Alongside factuality, GPT-5 is less sycophantic. Basically, OpenAI says that the new model doesn't just agree with you to keep you happy. OpenAI cut overly flattering responses by more than half compared to a previous update that accidentally made models too agreeable.Big leaps in coding, writing, and health adviceOpenAI has targeted improvements in three areas where people most often use ChatGPT: coding, writing, and health.In coding, GPT-5 is the company's strongest model yet. It can design and debug larger codebases, build attractive websites and apps in one go, and make smart design choices in layout, spacing, and typography. Developers have found it especially good at handling complex front-end work.advertisementFor writing, GPT-5 is a more capable collaborator. It can turn rough ideas into polished prose, sustain complex styles like unrhymed iambic pentameter, and handle structural ambiguity better than before. That means better help for everyday tasks such as drafting reports, editing emails, or creating creative pieces.In health, GPT-5 scores higher than all previous models on HealthBench, a benchmark created with physician input. It can flag potential concerns, ask clarifying questions, and give more precise, context-aware information. Importantly, OpenAI stresses that ChatGPT is not a medical professional but a partner to help users understand their options and prepare for discussions with doctors.GPT-5 is here.Rolling out to everyone starting today.https://t.co/rOcZ8J2btI pic.twitter.com/dk6zLTe04s— OpenAI (@OpenAI) August 7, 2025More personalisation and safer responsesGPT-5 follows instructions more accurately, making it easier to shape how it responds. It also introduces four preset 'personalities', which includes Cynic, Robot, Listener, and Nerd, so that users can quickly adjust ChatGPT's tone without having to type detailed prompts.On safety, GPT-5 uses a 'safe completions' method instead of simply refusing risky questions. If a request could be used in harmful ways, the model tries to give a helpful, safe-to-share answer rather than shutting down the conversation completely. If it must refuse, it explains why and suggests safe alternatives.advertisementThis approach is especially important for 'dual-use' topics like biology, where information could be misused. OpenAI tested GPT-5 extensively for biological and chemical safety, running 5,000 hours of risk assessment with expert partners in the UK and US.GPT-5 Pro for the most complex tasksFor users who need the deepest reasoning, GPT-5 Pro is available to Pro subscribers. It takes longer to think and uses advanced parallel computing to produce the most detailed answers possible.On challenging benchmarks like GPQA, which contains extremely difficult science questions, GPT-5 Pro achieved state-of-the-art performance, as per OpenAI's blog. In tests with over 1,000 real-world prompts, experts apparently preferred GPT-5 Pro's answers nearly 68 per cent of the time over the standard 'GPT-5 thinking' mode, noting its strength in science, health, mathematics, and coding. This version is aimed at people and organisations who need the highest accuracy, whether for research, technical work, or decision-making.
advertisementGPT-5 is now available to all ChatGPT users, with Plus and Pro subscribers getting higher usage limits and extra features. Free users will gradually get access to its reasoning capabilities, and when they hit their limits, GPT-5 Mini will take over.For everyday users, the biggest change may not be in its scores or benchmarks but in how it feels to use. With fewer mistakes, less flattery, and more thoughtful follow-ups, GPT-5 is designed to feel less like 'talking to AI' and more like working with a well-informed, patient colleague, one who is ready to help whether you're coding an app, drafting a speech, or preparing questions for your doctor.- Ends