"Launched ChatGPT-5 overshadows OpenAI"

In a much-anticipated event, OpenAI launched ChatGPT-5, promising to showcase Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). However, the launch execution was criticized for poor presentation, including "chart crimes" in the livestream.

The gap between expectation and reality may impact multi-year AI investment plans, hiring, and vendor lock-in. Boards need a clear read on vendor incentives, a plan to separate marketing from measurable progress, and a mechanism to capture real gains without buying every promise.

Despite the initial disappointment, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman acknowledged a "bumpy rollout" and community frustration. He signaled a potential return of GPT-4 for users who preferred its tone and creativity.

The new model, ChatGPT-5, was expected to reduce long-form factual errors, improve decision quality in compliance reviews, policy drafting, financial analysis, and legal discovery. OpenAI's own materials highlight these improvements, along with stronger tool use for multi-step chains, upgraded multi-modal handling, larger context windows, and improved trustworthiness and factuality benchmarks.

However, the model's colder persona caused user backlash, forcing OpenAI to reinstate the older GPT-4 model. Users also complained about the forced switch to GPT-5, loss of favored personas, new restrictions, and technical issues such as errors and poor automatic routing.

Strategic horizon setting benefits from sobriety, as GPT-5 has not achieved general intelligence, but meaningful productivity gains are possible with thoughtful integration. Maintain optionality across at least two families of models, ideally with an element that lets you switch without rewiring every app.

Regulator attention is rising for frontier labs, including OpenAI, due to the knife-edge business they operate in. It's always right to price capabilities, not buy shares in AI theatre.

Not all users may be aware of the differences between GPT-4 and GPT-5, with many only caring that it works for their needs. Independent commentary notes fewer collapses under complex prompts and a bias toward silence rather than hallucination when uncertain.

Competitive positioning should assume an accelerating arms race in AI, with OpenAI, Deepseek, Anthropic, and Elon Musk's Grok pushing for advancements. Insulate against supplier volatility while keeping options open as frontier labs race to control the narrative.

Over-interpreting GPT-5 as a watershed or not isn't helpful. The right plan blends pragmatism and ambition. None of the sandbox enterprises are testing GPT-5 to see if it's better or worse than their current tools.

Paul Armstrong, the founder of TBD Group and author of Disruptive Technologies, emphasizes the importance of maintaining a balanced approach in AI adoption. He advises enterprises to focus on practical applications and meaningful productivity gains, rather than chasing after the next big thing.

In conclusion, the launch of ChatGPT-5 has sparked a debate about the current state of AI and its future potential. While the model did not meet the initial expectations, it offers promising improvements in long-form factual errors and decision quality. As always, it's crucial for businesses to approach AI adoption with a balanced perspective, focusing on practical applications and maintaining flexibility in their strategies.