ChatGPT users may be able to access GPT-5 for free offered by OpenAI

OpenAI is gearing up for the release of GPT-5, which will incorporate its advanced o3 reasoning model and be made available to free users, according to CEO Sam Altman. In a roadmap shared on X, Altman outlined the company’s vision for streamlining interactions with ChatGPT, acknowledging that the current interface has become increasingly complex.

“Making AI feel natural to users is our aim. We know our model selection process has become cumbersome, and we’re committed to returning to a more intuitive, unified experience,” Altman wrote. He also mentioned that OpenAI aims to eliminate the need for a model picker, which currently requires users to manually select between different versions like o3-mini, either by pressing the “Reason” button or choosing from a dropdown menu that appears after ChatGPT responds. For users subscribed to ChatGPT Plus or Pro, the selection process can become even more intricate, with multiple models and intelligence settings to navigate.

Altman also shared insights into OpenAI’s broader roadmap, stating that GPT-4.5 will be the final model released without built-in chain-of-thought reasoning. Moving forward, all subsequent versions will have the capability to break down problems into intermediate steps, making them more effective at handling complex tasks. After GPT-4.5, OpenAI’s primary focus will be to merge the capabilities of the o-series models with the GPT-series, creating a cohesive system that intelligently determines when extended reasoning is necessary and when a quick response suffices.

Regarding GPT-5, Altman revealed that OpenAI plans to integrate a wide array of its existing technologies, including the o3 model and the recently introduced Deep Research feature. Initially, the company had planned to release o3 as a standalone model, but this approach has since been revised, with OpenAI opting instead to fold its capabilities directly into GPT-5. While a concrete timeline for GPT-4.5 or GPT-5 has not been set, Altman suggested that both could arrive within the next few weeks or months.

Once GPT-5 is launched, OpenAI intends to provide free users with unlimited access to the model at its standard intelligence level, with safeguards in place to prevent misuse. ChatGPT Plus subscribers will have access to an enhanced version of GPT-5 with greater reasoning capabilities, while Pro users will gain access to an even more advanced iteration of the model.