Thousands trash GPT-5 on Reddit, saying ChatGPT’s big update is 'horrible'

The most recent AI update from OpenAI, GPT-5, was supposed to be a step forward, but for many ChatGPT users, it feels like a step back. Within hours of launching, Reddit was flooded with complaints from unhappy users. The update has gotten a lot of bad press because it took away features and made limits stricter.

Thousands on Reddit calling the update "horrible." People are complaining about the lack of older models, stricter usage limits, and what they think is poor performance. Many people think GPT-5 is a step back, despite CEO Sam Altman's hype. This raises concerns that the AI giant is losing its loyal fans, as per a report by TechRadar.

Why is there so much backlash against GPT-5?

The criticism is loud and widespread. A Reddit thread titled "GPT-5 is horrible" received nearly 3,000 upvotes and over 1,200 comments. Users complain that GPT-5 is less responsive, slower, and less accurate than the previous GPT-4o series.

The comments range from light sarcasm to outright frustration. One user mocked the launch demo, saying, "If something goes wrong, don't worry; just ask again. I'm going to run three prompts simultaneously and choose my favorite. "So, how is that better?" Another compared it to "AI shrinkflation," in which features disappear but the price remains constant.

What's changed for ChatGPT Plus subscribers?

The impact on paying customers is a major source of concern. ChatGPT Plus subscribers, who previously had access to a variety of models such as o4-mini and o4-mini-high, are now limited to GPT-5's one-size-fits-all approach.

Worse, the new GPT-5 "Thinking" model has a hard limit of 200 messages per week. For power users, this represents a significant reduction in functionality, making the Plus subscription appear far less valuable.

Many users want the old models reinstated until GPT-5's bugs are fixed. As one Redditor stated, "I miss 4.1. Bring it back.

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Did Sam Altman overhype the update?

Part of the outrage stems from the massive hype surrounding GPT-5's release. Hours before the announcement, Altman teased the model with a dramatic tweet featuring the Death Star from Star Wars looming over a planet, implying a game-changing reveal.

While GPT-5 outperforms previous models in technical benchmarks, the differences appear to be minimal for everyday users. Many people prefer the dependability and familiarity of GPT-4o over GPT-5's sometimes erratic responses.

Where will OpenAI go from here?

OpenAI has yet to respond to widespread criticism in detail. However, with paying subscribers expressing buyer's remorse, the company must make a critical decision: either fine-tune GPT-5 quickly or risk losing users to competing AI platforms.

For the time being, the online sentiment is clear: the GPT-5 launch was less than spectacular. And unless improvements are made soon, OpenAI's most significant update may be remembered for the wrong reasons.

FAQs

Why are users upset with GPT-5?
They say it removed older models, added limits, and feels worse than previous versions.

What’s different for ChatGPT Plus subscribers?
They now face weekly message caps and have lost access to older AI models.