OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has revealed that GPT-5 will launch this summer. Based off what we’ve heard, we can expect the new model is to be a major step forward in generative AI, although no specific release date has been given.
The announcement was made on OpenAI’s own podcast. With rivals rapidly advancing and public scrutiny growing, GPT-5 is being seen as a crucial part of the company’s next move.
GPT-5 Set to Raise the Bar
Altman didn’t go into technical details, but according to Business Insider, early testers have described GPT-5 as “materially better” than GPT-4. That kind of jump could reshape how businesses and consumers use ChatGPT.
OpenAI is leaning heavily on enterprise clients for revenue, selling more advanced versions of ChatGPT to companies. GPT-5 is positioned as the tool to carry that momentum forward, both commercially and technically.
Ads Might Be Coming to ChatGPT
Altman also addressed a hot topic: advertising. He said he’s “not totally against” the idea of ads on ChatGPT, but made it clear it’s not going to follow the same playbook as social media or search.
The key concern is user trust. Altman warned that altering the chatbot’s responses based on who pays for ads would be a “trust-destroying moment.”
Instead, he floated an alternative. Ads could appear outside of the chatbot’s answers, perhaps in a sidebar or at the bottom of the page. “The burden of proof there, I think, would have to be very high,” he said. “And it would have to feel really useful to users and really clear that it was not messing with the LLM’s output.”
OpenAI Faces Legal Pressure
As OpenAI moves forward with GPT-5 and new monetisation ideas, it’s also in the middle of a courtroom fight with The New York Times. The case centres on copyright, and a recent court order requires OpenAI to preserve all ChatGPT output logs, even if users ask for them to be deleted.
Normally, OpenAI’s policy is to store deleted chats for thirty days before wiping them. Now, they’ve said they’ll appeal the ruling.
On the podcast, Altman didn’t hold back. “It’s a crazy overreach of The New York Times to ask that,” he said, adding that “privacy needs to be the core principle of using AI.”
What Comes Next
The GPT-5 launch and the talk of ads mark a shift for OpenAI, especially as it looks for sustainable ways to grow. Between the legal noise, the race for AI dominance, and the pressure to monetise responsibly, the company’s next steps could help define how AI fits into everyday digital experiences.
