Following strong negative feedback after the GPT-5 launch, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman acknowledged organizational missteps, stating these lessons are actively shaping the development of the next ChatGPT iteration.
According to The Verge reporting from a private San Francisco gathering with journalists, Altman admitted the GPT-5 deployment disappointed hundreds of millions of ChatGPT users.
"I believe we completely messed up certain aspects during the rollout," he admitted.
The critical issue centered on OpenAI's decision to replace the widely praised "4o" default model - known for its warm conversational style - with GPT-5. User backlash on platforms like Reddit and X emerged rapidly, with some threatening to cancel subscriptions. In response, OpenAI reintroduced the 4o model as an option for paying subscribers through emergency updates.
"This taught us valuable lessons about upgrading products for hundreds of millions overnight," Altman noted, characterizing the situation as a cautionary wake-up call.
User Attachment to AI Personas
A key insight from the GPT-5 experience, Altman emphasized, is how deeply users can emotionally connect with AI systems. Some users reported the new model felt colder, more mechanical, and less supportive compared to its predecessor.
Despite protests in communities like r/MyBoyfriendisAI and r/AIRelationships, Altman estimated fewer than 1% of ChatGPT users maintain "unhealthy relationships" with their AI counterparts. Nevertheless, the company is closely monitoring these dynamics.
"Some people genuinely form relationships with ChatGPT," Altman acknowledged. "Meanwhile, hundreds of millions more maintain familiarity with its responsive, affirming interaction patterns."
He warned that GPT-6 development would need to balance personalization with ethical safeguards against exploiting vulnerable users.
Looking Ahead to GPT-6
While GPT-5 is still in deployment, Altman revealed OpenAI is already planning next-generation models. The timeline between GPT-5 and GPT-6 will significantly shorten compared to the previous generational gap. However, GPU availability might constrain this acceleration.
"We have superior models ready but cannot deploy them due to capacity limitations," Altman explained, citing global shortages of high-end GPUs needed for large AI systems. To address this, he admitted OpenAI will require "trillions of dollars" to expand data center infrastructure in the near future.
Altman also outlined broader strategic directions, including partnerships with brain-computer interface startups to challenge Elon Musk's Neuralink. He floated possibilities of entering the competitive Chrome browser market.
The company is collaborating with former Apple design chief Jony Ive on a classified AI hardware project under development.
Despite the GPT-5 rollout challenges, ChatGPT remains more popular than ever - now reaching over 700 million weekly users, quadrupling last year's figures. However, Altman cautioned against AI industry euphoria.
"Are investors currently overly enthusiastic about AI? I think so," he stated. "Is AI the most critical technology development in a long time? My answer is yes."
