OpenAI’s GPT-5 is rolling out across ChatGPT and developer platforms, positioned as the most capable model yet for reasoning, coding, and end-to-end tasks, while GPT-4o remains a fast, cost-efficient, real-time multimodal workhorse for voice, vision, and multilingual use cases.
Microsoft has begun shipping GPT-5 across Copilot, GitHub Copilot, Visual Studio, and Azure AI Foundry, pairing a real-time router with deeper “thinking” variants to match tasks automatically.
OpenAI states GPT-5 reduces major errors vs earlier models and is now the default experience in ChatGPT for signed-in users, with “GPT-5 Thinking” available for harder problems.
Key takeaways
GPT-5 emphasises higher accuracy, faster responses, and stronger reasoning, with a built-in router that can switch to “GPT-5 Thinking” for complex tasks.
GPT-4o is still the best value for real-time voice, translation, and vision, with 128k context and broad enterprise availability via Azure.
Rollout is active: GPT-5 is live in ChatGPT and available via API; Microsoft has enabled GPT-5 across Copilot and developer tools.
OpenAI highlights coding gains and fewer major errors for GPT-5; press and industry blogs report safety and hallucination reductions vs prior models.
Some users flagged router expectations vs perceived gains, but the unified system simplifies model choice in ChatGPT and Copilot.
GPT-5 at a Glance
Positioning: OpenAI’s most advanced model, surpassing 4o in reasoning, coding, and task routing; default in ChatGPT with optional “GPT-5 Thinking”.
Availability: Rolling out to Plus, Pro, Team, and Free now; Enterprise/Edu next; API available for developers.
Ecosystem: Integrated across Microsoft 365 Copilot, GitHub Copilot, Visual Studio, and Azure AI Foundry with a real-time router.
Safety: Microsoft AI Red Team reports a strong safety profile among prior OpenAI models during pre-release testing.
GPT-4o at a Glance
Positioning: Multimodal “omni” model with native audio-text-vision and real-time responsiveness; strong multilingual performance.
Capabilities: Voice-to-voice, translation, and vision with rapid audio response; 128k token context; structured outputs and enterprise deployment on Azure.
Status: Available across Azure AI Foundry with multiple versions for Standard and Global Standard deployments.
Model Families, Routing, and Developer Access
GPT-5 in ChatGPT uses a behind-the-scenes router that picks faster or deeper reasoning variants automatically; users can explicitly choose “GPT-5 Thinking” when needed.
Microsoft ships the same router pattern across Copilot: a fast model for routine prompts, a deeper reasoning model for complex prompts.
GitHub Copilot and Visual Studio/VS Code offer GPT-5 in public preview for paid plans, targeting longer, multi-file, end-to-end coding tasks.
Head-to-Head Battle: GPT-5 vs GPT-4o Performance Showdown
Area
GPT-5
GPT-4o
Core focus
Accuracy, speed, and reasoning with automatic routing and “Thinking” modes
Strongest coding model yet; better end-to-end implementations and debugging
Matches GPT-4 Turbo in coding while excelling in non-English and vision tasks
Modalities
Text-first with agentic and coding depth; reasoning auto-applies when needed
Native audio+vision+text with rapid voice response and 128k context
Enterprise
Rolling across ChatGPT tiers, deep integration in Microsoft 365 Copilot, and Azure AI Foundry
Widely available on Azure with structured outputs and regional deployments
Safety & reliability
Fewer major errors reported; strong Red Team assessments and safer completions direction
Mature voice/vision model with enterprise controls in Azure
What’s Actually New in GPT-5?
System router: Automatically balances speed vs depth and switches to deeper reasoning when the prompt warrants it.
Coding uplift: OpenAI calls GPT-5 its strongest coding model, improving complex front-end generation and debugging larger repos.
Default in ChatGPT: Replaces GPT-4o for signed-in users; “GPT-5 Thinking” selectable for challenging tasks.
Broad rollout: Available in API and across Microsoft’s Copilot stack, with policy toggles for org-wide enablement.
Pricing, Latency, and Access Notes
OpenAI indicates GPT-5 is faster and more useful for core work tasks, with access tiered by usage limits between free and paid in ChatGPT.
GPT-4o continues to be the go-to for real-time responsiveness and cost-efficiency, with 128k context and multiple Azure versions.
GPT-5 vs GPT-4o | Task Comparison
Task 1: Content creation
GPT-5
GPT-4o
Best for long-form drafts, briefs, and technical content that benefits from deeper planning and fewer major errors, with automatic reasoning applied as needed.
Great for quick multilingual copy, captions, or social content with images and voice contexts, especially when latency and cost matter.
Task 2: Image generation
GPT-5: Strong planner for prompt engineering and multi-step creative direction; routes to the right capability inside ChatGPT, but the headline advantage is reasoning rather than pure image synthesis.
GPT-4o: Natively multimodal with improved vision understanding and image features in ChatGPT, replacing prior image tools during 2025 updates.
Image by GPT-4o
Task 3: Coding
GPT-5: OpenAI’s strongest coding model, built for end-to-end features, large implementations, and clearer debugging; live in GitHub Copilot and Visual Studio/VS Code previews.
GPT-4o: Competitive for code chat and quick snippets, with strong multilingual and vision-assisted coding contexts, but not as capable for complex, multi-file refactors.
Task 4: Video generation
GPT-5: Better at storyboarding, scene breakdowns, and tool-orchestration due to reasoning and routing; excels at planning and script-to-shot workflows.
GPT-4o: Strong at understanding frames, voice-over timing, and real-time guidance thanks to native audio-vision fusion; ideal for live iterations and multimodal prompts.
Task 5: Reasoning
GPT-5: Designed to apply deeper reasoning automatically, with “GPT-5 Thinking” available on demand for complex maths, analysis, and multi-step problems.
GPT-4o: Solid general reasoning, but its hallmark is real-time multimodal interaction rather than extended step-by-step analysis.
Which Model Fits?
Choose GPT-5 for: complex coding features, long-running agent tasks, structured analysis, and high-accuracy content where the router and “Thinking” modes pay off.
Choose GPT-4o for: real-time voice, translation, rapid multimodal chat, and production apps where latency and cost are top priorities.
Developer and enterprise availability
ChatGPT: GPT-5 is the new default for signed-in users; “GPT-5 Thinking” is selectable; supports all ChatGPT tools, including web search.
Microsoft: Available across Microsoft 365 Copilot, GitHub Copilot, Visual Studio/VS Code, and Azure AI Foundry, with an admin-controlled policy switch.
What You're Really Wondering About GPT-5
Is GPT-5 available in ChatGPT and the API?
Yes—rolling out to Plus, Pro, Team, and Free now; Enterprise/Edu next; API access available.
Is GPT-5 in Microsoft products?
Yes—Microsoft 365 Copilot, GitHub Copilot, Visual Studio/VS Code, and Azure AI Foundry are enabling GPT-5 with router-driven selection.
Does GPT-5 replace GPT-4o?
No—GPT-4o remains the go-to for real-time voice and vision; GPT-5 focuses on reasoning, coding, and task-appropriate routing.
Final Verdict: Here's What You Should Actually Use
For high-stakes reasoning, structured analysis, and serious coding work, GPT-5 is the better pick thanks to automatic routing and a stronger “Thinking” mode. For live voice, vision, and multilingual experiences at scale, GPT-4o still shines as the quickest way to build real-time multimodal apps, with flexible Azure deployments.
Shawn is a tech enthusiast at AI Curator, crafting insightful reports on AI tools and trends. With a knack for decoding complex developments into clear guides, he empowers readers to stay informed and make smarter choices. Weekly, he delivers spot-on reviews, exclusive deals, and expert analysis—all to keep your AI knowledge cutting-edge.
