What is GPT-5? Everything Beginners Need to Know

OpenAI has launched GPT-5, the latest and most advanced version of ChatGPT. CEO Sam Altman says it can perform at a “PhD-level” in areas like coding, writing, and research, making it feel more like talking to an expert than a student. It’s also designed to be smarter, faster, and more accurate, with fewer mistakes and a more human-like style.

What is GPT-5

GPT-5 is the next main model in ChatGPT and is the new default for signed-in users. It combines the best parts of earlier models into one fast, smart system you don’t have to switch between.

Smarter reasoning, better results

GPT-5 can dig deeper when a task needs careful thinking — for example, tricky code, science questions, long summaries, or data and financial analysis. For everyday jobs like writing, coding, or health-related questions, it’s also faster and more accurate than past models. In short, it tries to give you the best answer, faster.

GPT-5 can write full software, explain its reasoning, and give more trustworthy answers. OpenAI says it’s better for both everyday use and complex problem-solving. Critics, however, warn that AI companies may be overhyping these tools and that stronger regulation is urgently needed.

How it works

When you use GPT-5, the system can decide by itself whether to answer right away (Chat mode) or to “think” longer (Thinking mode) for harder tasks. That decision is based on your prompt, the conversation, and patterns learned from how people use models.

If GPT-5 switches to its deeper reasoning mode, you’ll see a compact reasoning display while it works. If you don’t want to wait, click Get a quick answer to get an immediate reply from the chat mode instead.

Who can use it

GPT-5 is rolling out to Plus, Pro, and Team users worldwide on the web, mobile, and desktop. Enterprise and Edu plans will get it soon. Paid tiers (Plus, Pro, Team) can use the model picker to choose GPT-5 or GPT-5 Thinking. Pro and Team users also get GPT-5 Thinking Pro — it takes a bit longer to think but is tuned for higher accuracy on complex tasks.

Usage limits

• Free accounts: up to 10 messages every 5 hours. After that, chats fall back to a smaller “mini” model until the window resets. Free users also get one GPT-5 Thinking message per day.
• Plus users: up to 160 GPT-5 messages every 3 hours. After that, chats switch to the mini model until the limit resets. (This 160 limit is a temporary increase and will go back down later.)
• Plus or Team (manual thinking): you can manually pick GPT-5-Thinking from the model picker — up to 200 messages per week. After you hit the weekly cap, you’ll get a pop-up, and that option won’t be available until it resets.
  Automatic switches from GPT-5 into GPT-5-Thinking do not count toward that weekly 200 limit — GPT-5 can still auto-switch even after you hit it.
• Pro and Team plans: offer unlimited access to GPT-5 models, subject to abuse-prevention rules.

Rules & fair use

You must follow the Terms of Use. Examples of disallowed activities include:

• Programmatically scraping or automatically extracting data.
• Sharing your account login or letting other people use your account.
• Reselling access or using ChatGPT to run third-party paid services.

The company has systems to detect misuse and protect everyone, and they update them over time.

Tools & features supported

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GPT-5 works with all ChatGPT tools and features, including:

• Web search
• Data analysis
• Image analysis
• File analysis
• Canvas
• Image generation
• Memory
• Custom instructions

Old models and what happens to your chats

When GPT-5 fully launches, several older models will be retired:

• GPT-4o, GPT-4.1, GPT-4.5, GPT-4.1-mini, o4-mini, o4-mini-high, o3, o3-pro.

If you open a chat that used one of those models, ChatGPT will automatically switch it to the closest GPT-5 equivalent:

• Chats with 4o, 4.1, 4.5, 4.1-mini, o4-mini, or o4-mini-high → open in GPT-5.
• Chats with o3 → open in GPT-5-Thinking.
• Chats with o3-Pro → open in GPT-5-Pro (Pro & Team only).

Because of this change, replies in older conversations may look different once they’re run on GPT-5.

The rollout is starting immediately, with a free tier and paid plans. Changes to ChatGPT also aim to make conversations healthier — for example, avoiding giving absolute answers to personal life questions, and instead helping users think through decisions. While the technology is advancing quickly, experts stress the importance of ethics, transparency, and fair treatment of creators whose work may be used to train AI models.

GPT-5 in ChatGPT – Quick FAQ

1. What is GPT-5?
It’s the latest and most advanced version of ChatGPT. It’s faster, more accurate, and better at both quick answers and deep, careful thinking.

2. How is it different from older versions?
It combines the best parts of past models into one system. It can instantly answer simple questions or switch to “thinking mode” for more complex tasks, such as coding, research, or data analysis.

3. What’s “thinking mode”?
If your question needs more careful reasoning, GPT-5 can spend extra time thinking before answering. You’ll see a short “thinking” screen while it works, and you can click Get a quick answer if you don’t want to wait.

4. Who gets GPT-5?
It’s rolling out to Plus, Pro, and Team subscribers on all devices. Free users can try it too, but with smaller limits. Enterprise and Education plans will get it soon.

5. What are the usage limits?

• Free: 10 messages every 5 hours, plus 1 “thinking mode” message per day.
• Plus: 160 messages every 3 hours (temporary increase).
• Plus & Team: Can manually use “thinking mode” up to 200 times a week.
• Pro & Team: Unlimited use (within fair-use rules).

6. What can’t I do with it?
No scraping websites for data, sharing your login, or reselling ChatGPT access. If we spot suspicious activity, your account may be paused.

7. Does GPT-5 work with all ChatGPT tools?
Yes — web search, data and image analysis, file analysis, Canvas, image generation, memory, and custom instructions.

8. What happens to old chats using GPT-4 or earlier?
Old models are being retired. Those chats will now use the closest GPT-5 version, so answers may look a little different.