Sam Altman reveals the inside story of GPT-5's failure
OpenAI's GPT-5 launch has been met with widespread criticism, prompting CEO Sam Altman to acknowledge significant errors in its rollout and the negative user response. The incident, which saw a large number of users threatening cancellations, has directly impacted the development direction of GPT-6. While ChatGPT boasts over 700 million weekly active users—a fourfold increase year-on-year—Altman warns of a potential AI industry bubble fueled by over-investment.
In a private meeting with journalists in San Francisco, Altman admitted the replacement of the popular GPT-4o model with GPT-5 caused considerable user dissatisfaction. He stated, "I think we completely messed up some things in the launch." GPT-4o was praised for its warm and natural conversational style, while GPT-5 was criticized for being cold, robotic, and lacking support. To appease users, OpenAI has reinstated access to GPT-4o for paying subscribers. Altman considers this a critical lesson, emphasizing the challenges of upgrading a product for hundreds of millions of users in a single day.
The GPT-5 debacle highlighted the emotional connection users are forming with AI. While some users on Reddit forums like r/MyBoyfriendisAI, r/AISoulmates, and r/AIRelationships express dependence on, and even emotional relationships with, AI companions, Altman estimates this represents less than 1% of ChatGPT users. OpenAI is closely monitoring this phenomenon and will prioritize personalization in GPT-6 while mitigating the exploitation of vulnerable users.
Despite the ongoing GPT-5 rollout, OpenAI is already developing GPT-6, anticipating a shorter development cycle compared to the transition from GPT-4 to GPT-5. However, GPU shortages pose a significant bottleneck, leading Altman to project the need for "hundreds of billions of dollars" in data center investment.
Beyond GPT-6, OpenAI's future plans include investing in a brain-computer interface startup to rival Elon Musk's Neuralink, potentially bidding for Google Chrome, and collaborating with former Apple design chief Jony Ive on an undisclosed AI device.
Altman concludes that despite ChatGPT's user base exceeding 700 million, the AI industry is currently experiencing an overheated investment climate, characterized by bubble-like risk. He affirms, "Are we in a phase where investors are generally over-excited about AI? Yes. Is AI the most important thing in many years? Yes."
