OpenAI Drops GPT-5 Just as ChatGPT Crosses 700 Million Weekly Users

OpenAI has officially launched GPT-5, its most advanced AI model yet, at a moment when global interest in artificial intelligence continues to skyrocket. 

The release coincides with ChatGPT reaching a new milestone over 700 million weekly users, signaling both the model’s growing popularity and the company’s increasing influence on the future of tech.

Described by OpenAI as its “smartest, fastest, and most useful” model to date, GPT-5 is designed not just to answer questions, but to think more deeply, reason more accurately, and help organizations tackle more complex tasks. 

It builds on the company’s previous breakthroughs including GPT-4o and its specialized reasoning tools, combining them into a single, unified system.

It is a model built for business

With GPT-5, OpenAI is setting its sights squarely on business operations. The model reportedly delivers sharper reasoning, faster performance, and better contextual understanding, making it ideal for use cases that demand precision like enterprise decision-making, coding, research, and customer interaction.

Companies across industries are already jumping on board. From tech firms like Figma and Intercom to major players like Morgan Stanley, Lowe’s, and SoftBank, GPT-5 is being integrated into internal workflows to boost efficiency. 

Even academic institutions like California State University are deploying GPT-powered tools for educational purposes.

Amgen’s Senior VP of AI & Data, Sean Bruich, praised GPT-5’s ability to handle complex, ambiguous queries with improved clarity and depth. “It’s delivering better performance where nuance and accuracy matter most,” he said.

Openi’s surge in subscriptions

Alongside the model launch, OpenAI revealed that over five million users are now paying for its business-tier products further proof of how quickly AI is becoming a staple across industries.

GPT-5 is currently accessible to ChatGPT Team users, while Enterprise and Edu subscribers will receive access in the coming week. Developers can also begin working with the model through the OpenAI API. 

A premium version, GPT-5 Pro, is in the pipeline, promising more powerful reasoning capabilities for high-end professional applications.

AI Arms race heats up

The timing of the launch is no coincidence. The global AI race is accelerating, with major players like Meta, Google (Alphabet), Amazon, and Microsoft (OpenAI’s biggest backer) pouring billions into AI research and infrastructure. 

Combined, these tech giants are expected to spend nearly $400 billion this year, largely on data centers and compute power to fuel the next generation of AI tools.

In the middle of this, OpenAI is reportedly in talks to allow staff to cash out shares at a valuation of $500 billion, a significant leap from its current $300 billion worth. 

Meanwhile, AI researchers are being offered eye-popping signing bonuses, sometimes reaching $100 million, as companies compete to hire the best minds in the field.

What GPT-5 means for the future

GPT-5’s launch marks more than just a product update, it represents a broader shift in how businesses, developers, and institutions think about intelligence and automation. 

With improved speed, reasoning, and reliability, GPT-5 is positioning itself as a serious tool for real-world problem-solving, not just a chatbot.

Whether this version lives up to its promise of transforming industries remains to be seen, but with ChatGPT usage at record highs and the AI arms race showing no signs of slowing down, OpenAI is clearly betting that GPT-5 will play a central role in shaping the future of work, learning, and innovation.

Source: BusinessElitesAfrica | Continue to Full Story…