News

OpenAI Scraps o3 Model, Streamlines AI Roadmap with GPT-5 Launch

• By John K. Waters
• 02/12/2025

OpenAI has abandoned plans to release its anticipated o3 model, opting instead for a "simplified" product lineup centered on its upcoming GPT-5, CEO Sam Altman announced. The decision, revealed in a post on X on Wednesday, marks a shift toward integrating multiple AI technologies into a single model for its ChatGPT platform and API.

Initially set for launch in early 2025, o3 was expected to be OpenAI’s next major release. As recently as a few weeks ago, OpenAI’s Chief Product Officer Kevin Weil stated that o3 was on track for a February-March launch. However, OpenAI now confirms that GPT-5 will encompass the capabilities of o3 and other proprietary AI technologies, eliminating the need for a separate release.

"We want to do a better job of sharing our intended roadmap and simplifying our product offerings," Altman wrote in his post. "We want AI to 'just work' for you; we realize how complicated our model and product offerings have gotten. We hate the model picker [in ChatGPT] as much as you do and want to return to magic unified intelligence."

Altman also announced that GPT-5 will offer unlimited chat access at a "standard intelligence setting," subject to "abuse thresholds," once the model becomes widely available. For premium users, ChatGPT Plus subscribers will gain access to a "higher level of intelligence," while ChatGPT Pro users will be able to leverage an "even higher level of intelligence."

The new model will integrate OpenAI’s evolving suite of AI tools, including voice capabilities, enhanced search functions, and deep research features. Altman emphasized OpenAI’s goal of unifying its AI systems to handle a broad range of tasks efficiently.

Before its GPT-5’s debut, OpenAI plans to release GPT-4.5, code-named "Orion," in the coming weeks. According to Altman, this will be OpenAI’s last "non-chain-of-thought" model, with future iterations embracing reasoning-based architectures that improve reliability in complex domains like math and physics.

The move toward reasoning models follows increased competition in the AI space. Chinese AI lab DeepSeek recently made headlines with its R1 model, which matches OpenAI’s o1 in several benchmarks. Unlike o1, R1 is an open-source model, allowing developers to download and modify it freely.

In a series of social media posts, Altman acknowledged that DeepSeek has narrowed OpenAI’s technological lead and hinted that OpenAI would accelerate some releases to maintain its competitive edge.