OpenAI claims GPT-5 model boosts ChatGPT to 'PhD level'

ChatGPT-maker OpenAI has unveiled the long-awaited latest version of its artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, GPT-5, saying it can provide PhD-level expertise.

Billed as "smarter, faster, and more useful," OpenAI co-founder and chief executive Sam Altman lauded the company's new model as ushering in a new era of ChatGPT.

"I think having something like GPT-5 would be pretty much unimaginable at any previous time in human history," he said ahead of Thursday's launch.

GPT-5's release and claims of its "PhD-level" abilities in areas such as coding and writing come as tech firms continue to compete to have the most advanced AI chatbot.

Elon Musk recently made similar claims of his own AI chatbot, Grok, which has been plugged into X (formerly Twitter).

During the launch of Grok's latest iteration last month, Musk said it was "better than PhD level in everything" and called it the world's "smartest AI".

Meanwhile, Altman said OpenAI's new model would suffer from fewer hallucinations - the phenomenon whereby large language models make up answers- and be less deceptive.

OpenAI is also pitching GPT-5 to coders as a proficient assistant, following a trend among major American AI developers, including Anthropic whose Claude Code targets the same market.

Anthropic recently revoked OpenAI's access to its application programming interface (API), claiming the company was violating its terms of service by using its coding tools ahead of GPT-5's launch.

An OpenAI spokesperson said it was "industry standard" to evaluate other AI systems to assess their own progress and safety.

"While we respect Anthropic's decision to cut off our API access, it's disappointing considering our API remains available to them," they added.

With a free tier for its new model, the company may be signalling a potential move away from the proprietary models that have previously dominated its offerings.

On Monday, OpenAI revealed it was making changes to promote a healthier relationship between users and ChatGPT.

In a blog post, it said: "AI can feel more responsive and personal than prior technologies, especially for vulnerable individuals experiencing mental or emotional distress."

It said it would not give a definitive answer to questions such as, "Should I break up with my boyfriend?"

Instead, it would "help you think it through - asking questions, weighing pros and cons", according to the blog post.

In May, OpenAI pulled a heavily-criticised update which made ChatGPT "overly flattering", according to Sam Altman.

On a recent episode of OpenAI's own podcast, Mr Altman said he was thinking about how people interact with his products.

"This is not all going to be good, there will still be problems," he said.

"People will develop these somewhat problematic, or maybe very problematic, parasocial relationships [with AI]. Society will have to figure out new guardrails. But the upsides will be tremendous."

Mr Altman is known to be a fan of the 2013 film Her, where a man develops a relationship with an AI companion.

In 2024, actress Scarlett Johansson, who voiced the AI companion in the film, said she was left "shocked" and "angered" after OpenAI launched a chatbot with an "eerily similar" voice to her own.

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