GPT-5: Release, Features, Benchmarks & Pricing (2025 Guide)

A verified, hype-free briefing on OpenAI’s latest flagship GPT-5 —what’s confirmed, what’s not, how it compares to Claude & Gemini, and how to prep your team.

Key confirmations:

• Availability: in ChatGPT (free with usage caps; higher limits for Plus/Team/Enterprise) and across API as gpt-5, gpt-5-mini, gpt-5-nano. (Source: OpenAI; Wired) OpenAIWIRED
• Context window (API): up to 400K tokens (272K input, 128K reasoning/output). (Source: OpenAI) OpenAI
• Focus areas: coding, front-end generation, long multi-step tool use (agents), improved instruction-following and factuality. (Source: OpenAI) OpenAI
• Enterprise rollout: Microsoft added GPT-5 to Copilot (including Microsoft 365 Copilot, Copilot Studio and Azure AI). (Source: Microsoft; The Verge) MicrosoftThe Verge

Expert POV: “This is the best model in the world at coding and writing.” — Sam Altman, CEO, in press briefing reported by The Verge (Aug 7, 2025). The Verge

GPT-5: Fast when you need speed, deep when you need reasoning

• GPT-5 is live in ChatGPT and in the API; Microsoft added it to Copilot the same day (The Verge; Microsoft 365 blog).
• Headlines: stronger coding & “agentic” task execution, long-context (up to 400K tokens in the API), and an automatic router in ChatGPT that decides when to “think hard” vs. go fast (OpenAI; The Verge).
• API pricing: GPT-5 $1.25/M input and $10/M output tokens; Mini and Nano are cheaper (OpenAI).
• Early benchmarks (OpenAI): SWE-bench Verified 74.9%; Aider Polyglot 88%; τ²-bench (tool use, telecom) 96.7%.
• Safety: shift from hard refusals to safe-completions; fewer hallucinations; still not AGI or continuously learning (OpenAI; major press).

Table of Contents

1. What is GPT-5?
2. What’s new vs GPT-4/4o
3. Expert takes
4. Potential use-cases
5. Pricing & availability
6. Benchmarks (sourced)
7. Safety, policy & compliance
8. Competitive landscape
9. Getting ready for GPT-5 (checklist + pros/cons)
10. FAQs

1) What is GPT-5?

OpenAI’s GPT-5 is the new flagship across ChatGPT and the API. In ChatGPT, a router quietly decides whether to answer quickly or invoke deeper reasoning, so most users don’t have to pick models manually (OpenAI; The Verge). Microsoft rolled GPT-5 into Microsoft 365 Copilot and Copilot Studio on day one for enterprise scenarios (Microsoft 365 blog).

Sources: OpenAI overview; developers post; The Verge; Microsoft 365 blog. OpenAI+1The VergeMicrosoft

2) What’s new vs GPT-4/4o

Highlights

• Long context in API (up to 400K tokens; max output 128K).
• Agentic tool use with better sequential/parallel calls; stronger front-end/code generation.
• New controls: reasoning_effort and verbosity.
• In ChatGPT, the router reduces UX friction for casual users (OpenAI; Business Insider).

Quick comparison (skimmable)

• GPT-5 → Text & vision (voice in ChatGPT), up to 400K tokens; excels at coding, UI generation, and multi-step tool use (OpenAI).
• GPT-4o → Real-time text/vision/audio with very low latency; great for live audio/vision (OpenAI).
• Claude 3.5 Sonnet → Text+image; 200K context; strong writing/coding (Anthropic).
• Gemini 2.5 Pro → Native multimodal; 1M context (2M “coming soon” per Google) (Google).

Sources: OpenAI model + dev posts; Anthropic; Google; Business Insider UX angle. OpenAI+4OpenAI+4OpenAI+4Business Insider

3) Expert takes

• Sam Altman (OpenAI) told press GPT-5 is a “significant step,” yet still not AGI; the big win is practicality (The Verge).
• Nick Turley (Head of ChatGPT) said “the vibes are really good,” pointing to the router’s benefit for everyday users (The Verge).
• Jared Spataro (Microsoft): Copilot routes to GPT-5’s deeper reasoning when prompts demand it (Microsoft 365 blog).

Sources: The Verge; Microsoft 365 blog. The VergeMicrosoft

4) Potential use-cases

Developers & product

• Generate front-ends, components, and internal tools from a short brief; cleaner diffs and fewer tool-calling errors (OpenAI dev post).
• Agentic chains for RAG, ETL, research, and automation with better sequential/parallel tool calling (OpenAI dev post).

Marketing & sales

• Multi-format campaign sets (ads, landing pages, outreach) from one brief; Copilot brings work context (Microsoft 365 blog).

Support & ops

• Long-context case reviews; safer guidance on sensitive queries via safe-completions (OpenAI system card/safety note).

Sources: OpenAI dev + safety notes; Microsoft. OpenAI+1Microsoft

5) Pricing & availability

• ChatGPT: GPT-5 available to free users with caps; higher tiers raise limits (major press coverage).
• API: gpt-5 $1.25/M input and $10/M output; gpt-5-mini $0.25/$2; gpt-5-nano $0.05/$0.40 (OpenAI dev post).
• Enterprise: Microsoft 365 Copilot & Copilot Studio support GPT-5 now (Microsoft 365 + Tech Community blogs).

Sources: OpenAI developer pricing; Wired/The Verge for availability context; Microsoft 365 + Tech Community. OpenAIThe VergeMicrosoftTECHCOMMUNITY.MICROSOFT.COM

6) Benchmarks (sourced)

OpenAI reports:

• SWE-bench Verified: 74.9% (bug-fix tasks).
• Aider Polyglot: 88% (code editing diffs).
• τ²-bench (telecom tool-use): 96.7%.
  Methodology and safety evaluation details are in the GPT-5 system card; independent replications will take time.

What’s New vs GPT-4/4o (and a quick competitor)

At a glance: more reliable reasoning, bigger context in API, new safety training, and a developer-friendly API with verbosity and reasoning_effort controls. (Source: OpenAI) OpenAI

Feature comparison

Model	Modality (core)	Max context (API)	Latency class	Notable capabilities	Source/date
GPT-5	Text & Vision (Voice in ChatGPT)	400K (272K in + 128K out)	Reasoning + fast paths via router	Agentic tool use, front-end/UI generation, verbosity & reasoning_effort, custom tools	OpenAI (Aug 2025) (OpenAI)
GPT-4o	Real-time text, vision, audio	—	Low-latency multimodal	Strong live vision/audio, cheaper than GPT-4 Turbo at launch	OpenAI (May 2024) (OpenAI)
Claude 3.5 Sonnet	Text, image	200K	Fast/steady	Strong writing & coding; widely used via Bedrock/Vertex	Anthropic (Jun–Aug 2024) (Anthropic, Amazon Web Services, Inc.)
Gemini 2.5 Pro	Native multimodal (text, image, audio, video)	1M (2M “coming soon”)	Multiple tiers	Long-context analysis and deep research modes	Google (Mar 2025) (blog.google)

Sources: OpenAI dev post; system card. OpenAI+1

7) Safety, policy & compliance

OpenAI is moving from blanket refusals to safe-completions—staying helpful within constraints on sensitive/dual-use prompts. The system card cites reduced hallucinations and more honest behavior vs earlier models. OpenAI leadership and outside coverage stress GPT-5 is not AGI and does not learn continuously after deployment.

Practical tips: scope tools/retrieval; log tool calls; PII redaction/DLP where required; keep human review for regulated outputs.

Sources: OpenAI system card + safe-completions; The Vergecast discussion. OpenAIThe Verge

8) Competitive landscape (neutral)

• Anthropic Claude 3.5 Sonnet — 200K context; strong long-form reliability; widely available via Bedrock/Vertex.
• Google Gemini 2.5 Pro — native multimodality; 1M context (2M “coming soon”); deep research focus.
  Positioning: GPT-5 leans into agentic coding + router UX; Claude emphasizes consistency in long-form tasks; Gemini pushes ultra-long context.

Sources: Anthropic; Google. OpenAI+1

9) Getting ready for GPT-5

Quick-start checklist

• Map GPT-4/4o calls → gpt-5 family (gpt-5, mini, nano).
• Add reasoning_effort + verbosity; log cost/latency trade-offs.
• Harden tool calling (sequential/parallel), add retries/guardrails.
• Validate long-context (64K → 400K) with your data and retrieval.
• Update UX copy to explain safe-completions and escalation paths.
• Turn on prompt caching/batch where it fits.

Pros

• Stronger coding & agentic tasks; long-context API; safer answers; broad ecosystem (ChatGPT, Copilot).

Cons

• Higher costs without routing/controls; still imperfect hallucination control; not AGI.

Sources: OpenAI dev + system card; Microsoft 365 blog. OpenAI+1Microsoft

10) FAQs

What is GPT-5?
OpenAI’s latest flagship for ChatGPT and the API, emphasizing coding, agentic tool use, and safer responses (OpenAI). OpenAI

Is GPT-5 available to free users?
Yes, with usage caps; paid tiers raise limits (The Verge/Wired coverage). The Verge

What’s the context window?
Up to 400K tokens in the API; 128K max output (OpenAI). OpenAI

How much does GPT-5 cost in the API?
$1.25/M input and $10/M output tokens; Mini and Nano are cheaper (OpenAI). OpenAI

Is GPT-5 better at coding?
OpenAI reports 74.9% on SWE-bench Verified and other gains (OpenAI). OpenAI

Does GPT-5 replace GPT-4o?
In ChatGPT, the router picks the path; 4o remains available in some products (The Verge). The Verge

What is “safe-completions”?
A method to give helpful, constrained answers on sensitive queries rather than blunt refusals (OpenAI). OpenAI

Can GPT-5 learn continuously after deployment?
No—OpenAI and coverage note it doesn’t continuously learn post-deployment (press/system card). The Verge

Is GPT-5 in Microsoft Copilot / Copilot Studio?
Yes—rolling out now across Microsoft 365 Copilot and Copilot Studio (Microsoft 365 + Tech Community blogs). MicrosoftTECHCOMMUNITY.MICROSOFT.COM

How does GPT-5 compare to Claude/Gemini?
GPT-5 emphasizes agentic coding + router UX; Claude 3.5 offers 200K context; Gemini 2.5 Pro offers 1M context (Anthropic; Google). OpenAI+1

Conclusion

GPT-5 is a meaningful upgrade: better code, more stable tool use, longer context, and an interface that hides model complexity. It’s not magic—safety isn’t solved and it’s not AGI—but it’s a practical step forward for teams that ship with AI. Start migrating targeted workloads, measure cost/latency with the new knobs, and keep a human review loop wherever stakes are high.

References

Google — Gemini 2.5: Our most intelligent AI model (Mar 25, 2025). https://blog.google/technology/google-deepmind/gemini-model-thinking-updates-march-2025/ blog.google

OpenAI — GPT-5 is here (Aug 7, 2025). https://openai.com/gpt-5/ OpenAI

OpenAI — Introducing GPT-5 for developers (Aug 7, 2025). https://openai.com/index/introducing-gpt-5-for-developers/ OpenAI

OpenAI — GPT-5 system card & Safe-completions (Aug 7, 2025). https://openai.com/index/gpt-5-system-card/ ; https://openai.com/index/gpt-5-safe-completions/ OpenAI+1

The Verge — GPT-5 is being released to all ChatGPT users (Aug 7, 2025). https://www.theverge.com/openai/748017/gpt-5-chatgpt-openai-release The Verge

Microsoft 365 Blog — Available today: GPT-5 in Microsoft 365 Copilot (Aug 7, 2025). https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2025/08/07/available-today-gpt-5-in-microsoft-365-copilot/ Microsoft

GitHub — GPT-5 public preview for GitHub Copilot (Aug 7, 2025). https://github.blog/changelog/2025-08-07-openai-gpt-5-is-now-in-public-preview-for-github-copilot/ The GitHub Blog

Wired — OpenAI finally launched GPT-5 (Aug 7, 2025). https://www.wired.com/story/openais-gpt-5-is-here/ WIRED

The Guardian — OpenAI says latest ChatGPT upgrade is big step… but still can’t do humans’ jobs (Aug 7, 2025). https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/aug/07/openai-chatgpt-upgrade-big-step-forward-human-jobs-gpt-5 The Guardian

Anthropic — Introducing Claude 3.5 Sonnet (Jun 20, 2024). https://www.anthropic.com/news/claude-3-5-sonnet Anthropic