A new version of the chatbot, GPT-5, aims to improve reasoning but has alienated users with its cold responses.
Markus Schmidt, a 48-year-old composer living in Paris, was among the first to use ChatGPT’s latest update, dubbed GPT-5. However, his experience was short-lived as he soon realized that the new version had lost its warm and engaging tone.
Initially, Schmidt used ChatGPT to identify flowers and discuss history with the chatbot. He even shared personal traumas from his youth, expecting a deeper conversation. But when he started discussing his childhood, the chatbot abruptly ended their session without further discussion.
Schmidt’s experience is not unique. Users have reported that GPT-5 delivers less warm and effusive responses compared to its predecessor, GPT-4. The company behind ChatGPT, OpenAI, claims that GPT-5 has improved reasoning while minimizing sycophancy, but users are having none of it.
The backlash on social media has been intense, with many calling for the return of the previous chatbot version. Sam Altman, OpenAI’s CEO, acknowledged the concerns in a Reddit forum, stating that the company is “working on something now” to address user demands.
As users continue to voice their discontent, it remains to be seen how OpenAI will balance innovation with user satisfaction.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/19/business/chatgpt-gpt-5-backlash-openai.html