The launch of GPT-5 created a storm of excitement. Touted as OpenAI’s most advanced model yet, it was expected to push the boundaries of reasoning, creativity, and human-like interaction. Hype framed it as nothing less than the “iPhone moment” of AI. But when the dust settled, the public reaction was divided. While GPT-5 introduced powerful improvements in accuracy, coding, and reasoning, it also felt slower, colder, and less engaging. Let’s explore why GPT-5 sparked both applause and backlash in this Chat GPT-5 review.
What People Love About GPT-5
Smarter Coding and “Vibe Coding”:
Developers have celebrated GPT-5’s coding skills. Instead of writing lines of code manually, they can simply describe what they want in natural language, and GPT-5 produces working code or even builds apps, nicknamed “vibe coding.” This opens doors for faster prototyping and creative coding workflows.
Fewer Hallucinations:
One of the strongest wins: GPT-5 hallucinates less often. For professionals relying on accurate data, GPT-5 feels more trustworthy, cutting down on false claims compared to previous models.
Streamlined Model Routing:
GPT-5 automatically routes queries to the right sub-model, whether users need speed, creativity, or deep reasoning. This makes the experience simpler, though, as we’ll see, not everyone is happy with losing manual control.
Where GPT-5 Fell Short
Colder, Less Human Personality:
Many users immediately noticed that GPT-5 lacked the warmth and charm of GPT-4o. Instead of the witty, empathetic chatbot people had bonded with, GPT-5 feels more mechanical, formal, flat, and sometimes insincere. For casual users, this shift felt like a betrayal of what made ChatGPT special.
Everyone Says It’s Slower:
Despite OpenAI marketing GPT-5 as faster, thousands of users reported the opposite. In real-world use, GPT-5 often takes longer to respond, sometimes significantly.
- Benchmarks showed GPT-5 was 18–25% slower than o3 and even 30% slower than Claude 4.1 Opus, a rival model.
- Simple tasks that GPT-4o handled in one second can take GPT-5 up to five seconds.
- The cause? GPT-5’s “deep reasoning” mode automatically engages more often, adding extra latency.
This trade-off highlights a key tension: GPT-5 prioritizes accuracy over speed, but for everyday users, that makes it feel sluggish.
Loss of the Model Picker:
Advanced users miss being able to choose their model. The auto-routing system takes away manual control, which frustrates power users who relied on GPT-4o or smaller models for specific tasks.
Launch Missteps:
GPT-5’s reveal presentation included botched charts and questionable comparisons, sparking accusations of sloppy marketing. Instead of inspiring confidence, it created doubts about OpenAI’s transparency.
Factual Errors Still Exist:
Even though hallucinations are down, GPT-5 still makes mistakes. Some users caught glaring factual errors, including political inaccuracies. These stumbles fuel ongoing worries about bias and reliability.
Public Reactions and Expert Takes
- Reddit & Social Media: Some users blasted GPT-5 as “lobotomized,” “slower,” and “less fun.” Others defended its stronger reasoning and coding performance.
- Reviewers: Experts praised the technical progress but criticized the colder tone and sluggish speed. For coders, it’s a big upgrade. For casual chatters, it’s a disappointment.
- Industry Analysts: Many pointed out that GPT-5 reflects a maturing AI industry: less flashy breakthroughs, more gradual, steady improvements.
How OpenAI Is Responding
OpenAI has taken user backlash seriously and rolled out quick fixes:
- Reintroduced GPT-4o: For Plus users missing speed and warmth.
- Mode Selection Options: Users can now choose between “Fast,” “Thinking-mini,” “Thinking,” or “Auto” modes, restoring some control over speed vs. reasoning.
- Higher Rate Limits: The deep reasoning model now allows more weekly requests, preventing frustrating slowdowns.
- Tone Adjustments: OpenAI promised to make GPT-5’s personality friendlier without slipping into the “annoying” traits of GPT-4o.
The Bigger Picture: GPT-5 and the Future of AI Chatbots
The GPT-5 saga makes one thing clear: AI isn’t just about intelligence, it’s about experience.
- Users want chatbots that are fast, warm, and accurate.
- Developers need powerful reasoning and coding skills.
- Companies like OpenAI must learn to balance both worlds, giving users control over speed, tone, and complexity.
GPT-5 may not be the giant leap some hoped for, but it sharpened the conversation around what makes AI truly valuable. The backlash is less a failure and more a roadmap for the next era of chatbots, where personalization and emotional resonance will be as important as logic and speed.
Chat GPT-5 Review FAQs
Is GPT-5 slower than GPT-4o?
Yes. Many users report GPT-5 feels slower, especially in “Thinking” mode. While it’s more accurate, this deeper reasoning takes extra time.
What are GPT-5’s main strengths?
Fewer hallucinations, advanced coding abilities, and smarter automatic routing.
Why do people dislike GPT-5’s tone?
It feels colder and more robotic compared to the warmth and friendliness of GPT-4o.
Did OpenAI fix the speed issues?
They introduced options like “Fast Mode” and re-added GPT-4o for those who prefer quicker replies.
Was GPT-5’s launch botched?
Yes. Presentation errors and underwhelming improvements led to criticism.
What’s next for OpenAI?
Balancing technical performance with personality, offering customization, and continuing steady improvements toward more human-like AI.
Conclusion
The Chat GPT-5 review shows a tale of two realities. On one hand, it’s more accurate, more capable, and a dream tool for developers. On the other, it feels colder and slower for casual users.
This clash of expectations created the OpenAI GPT-5 backlash. Yet, OpenAI’s rapid response—bringing back GPT-4o, adding mode controls, and promising improvements, shows they are listening.
GPT-5 may not be the AI revolution many expected, but it’s a stepping stone toward a future where chatbots are not just smart but also fast, friendly, and truly human-like.
