OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman has announced a delay in ChatGPT-4.5 rolling out to Plus subscribers.
Initially, the model would be available to everyone on the same day, but the deployment will now occur gradually over several days to manage server load effectively.
As OpenAI's most advanced model to date, emphasizing enhanced emotional intelligence and natural conversational abilities, Altman has described ChatGPT-4.5 as "the first model that feels like talking to a thoughtful person."
Why the ChatGPT-4.5 delay?
we are likely going to roll out GPT-4.5 to the plus tier over a few days.there is no perfect way to do this; we wanted to do it for everyone tomorrow, but it would have meant we had to launch with a very low rate limit.we think people are gonna use this a lot and love it.March 4, 2025
Altman explained that releasing to all users at once would necessitate low-rate limits, hindering the user experience. By staggering the rollout, OpenAI aims to give users the full user experience of engaging in extended, meaningful conversations without significant restrictions.
The model has a high capacity to provide insightful advice and respond adeptly to social cues. However, because of the model's substantial size and the associated costs of training and operation, OpenAI has experienced a few unexpected challenges, including GPU shortages that have impacted the rollout schedule.
Potential new payment model
In addition to the adjusted release plan, Altman proposed on X a significant change to the ChatGPT Plus subscription model.
Currently, subscribers pay a fixed monthly fee of $20 for unlimited access. The proposed system would allocate a set number of credits each month, which users could spend across various OpenAI products, such as Deep Research, ChatGPT o1, Sora, and ChatGPT-4.5.
Altman is proposing that if users exhaust their credits, they would have the option to purchase additional ones. While the credit-based approach aims to provide flexibility and align usage with individual needs, it also could become pricey for high-usage users.
The proposed payment structure was received with mixed reactions. Some users appreciate the flexibility it offers, allowing them to tailor their usage to specific products. However, others are expressing concern that it may discourage experimentation and limit spontaneous interactions with the AI models.
ChatGPT-4.5: Looking ahead
OpenAI's approach to these developments reflects a commitment to balancing technological advancement with user accessibility and satisfaction.
As AI models become more sophisticated and resource-intensive, considerations around deployment strategies, pricing structures and emphasizing tiered rollouts are crucial to ensure sustainable and fair access for all users.
But it sounds like the proposed pricing changes could cause at least some backlash.
Stay tuned for our hands-on impressions of ChatGPT-4.5 as it rolls out.
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