{"id":162599,"date":"2025-08-13T17:20:19","date_gmt":"2025-08-13T17:20:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/openais-plan-to-increase-revenue-with-gpt-5-has-backfired-completely\/"},"modified":"2025-08-13T17:20:20","modified_gmt":"2025-08-13T17:20:20","slug":"openais-plan-to-increase-revenue-with-gpt-5-has-backfired-completely","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/openais-plan-to-increase-revenue-with-gpt-5-has-backfired-completely\/","title":{"rendered":"OpenAI&#8217;s plan to increase revenue with GPT-5 has backfired completely."},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2>The Rise and Fall of GPT-5: OpenAI&#8217;s Controversial Moves<\/h2>\n<p>The launch of OpenAI&#8217;s \u00a0GPT-5\u00a0 has stirred considerable debate within the tech community. Initially, the model was touted as a groundbreaking advancement in artificial intelligence, promising an easier and more powerful user experience than its predecessor, GPT-4. However, recent developments indicate that users are disillusioned, primarily due to monetization efforts that have seemingly compromised the model&#8217;s integrity. The overarching challenge appears to be a clash between user expectations and OpenAI&#8217;s business objectives.<\/p>\n<p><!-- BREAK 1 --><\/p>\n<h2>The Router Controversy<\/h2>\n<p>One of the most striking features introduced with GPT-5 was its \u00a0router\u00a0 system, designed to customize responses based on the complexity of the user&#8217;s inquiries. Theoretically, this innovative component was meant to adapt the model\u2019s functionality to suit individual needs. However, critics quickly pointed out that the router consistently defaults to the cheapest operational mode, much to the chagrin of users who were expecting more tailored interactions.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-asset article-asset-normal article-asset-center\">\n<div class=\"desvio-container\">\n<div class=\"desvio\">\n<div class=\"desvio-figure js-desvio-figure\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- BREAK 2 --><\/p>\n<h2>User Backlash and Rebranding<\/h2>\n<p>Users, especially frequent chat interface users, were quick to express their dissatisfaction with both the router&#8217;s design and the continued availability of older models like \u00a0GPT-4\u00a0. The backlash prompted swift changes from OpenAI, including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The revival of previously discontinued models, such as GPT-4, albeit exclusively for paying users.<\/li>\n<li>The option for free users to select different variants of GPT-5.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This response demonstrates OpenAI&#8217;s financial motivations, especially after promoting GPT-5 as a unique, multifunctional model. Critics felt let down by this monetization strategy, leading to questions about the model\u2019s actual value.<\/p>\n<p><!-- BREAK 3 --><\/p>\n<h2>Enhanced User Options<\/h2>\n<p>OpenAI&#8217;s CEO, \u00a0Sam Altman\u00a0, addressed the uproar by detailing new options available to users, including &#8220;Auto&#8221;, &#8220;Fast&#8221;, and &#8220;Thinking&#8221; modes for GPT-5. He noted that while most users might gravitate towards the &#8220;Auto&#8221; setting, having customizable options was important for diverse user needs. Altman also reassured paying users that GPT-4 would remain accessible, emphasizing that they would be notified ahead of any changes.<\/p>\n<p><!-- BREAK 4 --><\/p>\n<h2>Customizability vs. Neutrality<\/h2>\n<p>Critics widely regarded GPT-5 as too \u00a0neutral\u00a0, lacking warmth and personality. In response, OpenAI has signaled plans for an update that would enhance the model&#8217;s emotional depth while avoiding the overly chatty nature of GPT-4. Such moves indicate that OpenAI understands the importance of customizability, perhaps realizing that user experiences could benefit from a more human touch.<\/p>\n<p><!-- BREAK 5 --><\/p>\n<h2>Monetization Hypotheses<\/h2>\n<p>A theory presented by \u00a0SemiAnalysis\u00a0 emphasizes that the key to GPT-5 lies not in its AI capabilities but rather in the \u00a0router\u00a0 designed to monetize the model. They argue that this shift allows OpenAI to encourage users to transition from free to paid subscriptions. During an update, Altman shared that the percentage of free users selecting the &#8220;reasoning&#8221; variant of GPT-5 increased significantly from less than 1% to 7%, while for ChatGPT Plus subscribers, the figure soared from 7% to 24%.<\/p>\n<p><!-- BREAK 6 --><\/p>\n<h2>Subscription Growth<\/h2>\n<p>The router&#8217;s impact on user behavior cannot be understated. According to SemiAnalysis, the improved performance of the &#8220;Thinks&#8221; model has encouraged a 3.5-fold increase in subscriptions. While this shift has led to criticisms from intensive ChatGPT users, it seems to serve OpenAI&#8217;s broader objective of converting their extensive base of \u00a0free users\u00a0\u2014approximately 700 million\u2014into paying customers.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-asset article-asset-normal article-asset-center\">\n<div class=\"desvio-container\">\n<div class=\"desvio\">\n<div class=\"desvio-figure js-desvio-figure\">\n        <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Understanding GPT-5's functionality based on payment willingness: a guide to OpenAI's latest offerings\" width=\"375\" height=\"142\" src=\"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/ChatGPT-now-has-a-router-that-selects-which-GPT-5-model.jpeg\"\/>\n      <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- BREAK 7 --><\/p>\n<h2>Historical Precedents<\/h2>\n<p>OpenAI&#8217;s tactics of degrading its free service in favor of enhanced paid options have historical precedents. For example, \u00a0Netflix\u00a0 once faced backlash for implementing aggressive monetization strategies, such as closing accounts and introducing ads. Despite initial struggles, Netflix has since flourished, reinforcing a strategy that seems to pair downgrading free services with increased paid subscriptions. OpenAI may well be following this model as they navigate the complex landscape of AI deployment and monetization.<\/p>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/category\/general\/\" rel=\"dofollow\">General News &#8211; 2<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Rise and Fall of GPT-5: OpenAI&#8217;s Controversial Moves The launch of OpenAI&#8217;s \u00a0GPT-5\u00a0 has stirred considerable debate within the tech community. Initially, the model was touted as a groundbreaking advancement in artificial intelligence, promising an easier and more powerful user experience than its predecessor, GPT-4. However, recent developments indicate that users are disillusioned, primarily [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":162600,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36399],"tags":[38957,4116,38464,1752,27332,1482,15031],"class_list":["post-162599","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology","tag-backfired","tag-completely","tag-gpt5","tag-increase","tag-openais","tag-plan","tag-revenue"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/162599","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=162599"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/162599\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/162600"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=162599"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=162599"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=162599"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}