OpenAI is gearing up for a significant AI upgrade, with CEO Sam Altman shedding light on the roadmap for its upcoming models, GPT-4.5 and GPT-5. In a recent post on X, Altman confirmed that GPT-4.5, internally codenamed Orion, will be the company’s next large language model (LLM) and the last non-chain-of-thought model before OpenAI transitions to more advanced architectures. Following closely behind, GPT-5 is set to redefine the AI experience.
“We want AI to ‘just work’ for you. We realize how complicated our model and product offerings have become. We hate the model picker as much as you do and want to return to magic unified intelligence,” Altman wrote, hinting at a more seamless and intuitive AI ecosystem. One of the most notable shifts will be how users access GPT-5. Free-tier users of ChatGPT will get a taste of the model, albeit under a standard intelligence setting with restrictions to prevent abuse.
Meanwhile, Plus subscribers ($20 per month) will enjoy a higher intelligence tier, and Pro subscribers ($200 per month) will gain access to the most advanced capabilities. GPT-5 isn’t just another step forward, it’s a complete system overhaul. Altman revealed that the model will integrate voice, canvas, search, deep research, and more, aiming to create an AI that feels less like a tool and more like an intuitive assistant.
Interestingly, GPT-5 will also absorb OpenAI’s most powerful reasoning model, o3, which will no longer be released as a standalone LLM. Instead, OpenAI plans to merge the o-series and GPT-series into a unified system, one that intelligently determines when to think deeply, when to act quickly, and how to leverage all available tools for maximum efficiency.
While Altman didn’t specify a release date, GPT-4.5 and GPT-5 are expected to arrive later this year. The announcement comes amid a dramatic backdrop, just days after Elon Musk’s staggering $97.4 billion offer to acquire OpenAI, which was met with Altman’s bold counteroffer of $9.74 billion to take over X. The AI race just got a lot more interesting.