The Core of the Announcement
The announcement was brief but significant:
“Next, we will launch GPT-4.5, internally codenamed Orion.”
“Free-tier ChatGPT users will have unlimited access to GPT-5’s chat functionality (standard intelligence mode).”
The implications are clear: GPT-5 is on the horizon.
It’s worth noting that GPT-5 was reportedly trained as early as mid-2023 but has been undergoing alignment (safety precautions) since then. OpenAI’s version numbering has become increasingly confusing, making it difficult even for seasoned users to keep track.

Pricing and Efficiency
GPT-4.5’s pricing is another point of contention. At $150 per million tokens, it’s 10 to 100 times more expensive than competing models. Combined with its slower performance and underwhelming capabilities, it’s hard to justify the cost.

Community Reactions
Sam Altman remains defiant, but the community isn’t convinced. A popular comparison among users simplifies the current AI landscape:
GPT-4.5 is the new Claude 3.6 (aka 3.5).
Claude 3.7 is the new o3-mini-high.
Claude Code is the new Cursor.
Grok is the new Perplexity.
o1 pro is the most “intelligent,” supporting deep research.

The Bigger Picture
Reflecting on OpenAI’s journey, it’s clear that ChatGPT has lost its competitive edge. The rise of alternatives like DeepSeek and Claude signals a shift in the AI landscape. As one giant stumbles, a multitude of new players rise to fill the void.