OpenAI keeps GPT-4o active and doubles GPT-5 usage for some users

Yesterday OpenAIreleased GPT-5, the latest model update to ChatGPT. More than 24 hours later, the new model is still rolling out to paid and free customers. Meanwhile, OpenAI is reconsidering the availability of certain models and limitations for customers. The new model will also be more transparent and offer more control over which tools it uses for which requests.

Let’s start with the rollout status. I was pleasantly surprised when OpenAI said GPT-5 would be available to almost all of its users starting yesterday. Other model rollouts have started with the highest paying customers before coming to standard tier customers and free users. A day later, however, GPT-5 has only arrived in ChatGPT on my iPhone. The Mac and web versions are still GPT-4o for now. Most of my ChatGPT usage takes place on the Mac, so I’ve used iPhone Mirroring to access it on my laptop.

“Rolling out to everyone is taking a bit longer,” Sam Altman posted on X. “It’s a massive change at big scale. For example, our API traffic has about doubled over the past 24 hours…”

Altman adds that the “autoswitcher” component of GPT-5 was down for much of launch day, which may have made the model appear less intelligent or capable. A major change of GPT-5 is that it is a unified model. It’s designed to automatically determine the appropriate approach for a given query. Previous models have required manually switching between fast responses, reasoning models, and coding.

Based on user feedback, ChatGPT will include more transparency about which type of model GPT-5 has tapped, and the ability to choose will be added. The unified model is still a step forward for most users, especially if the “autoswitcher” component performs as intended.

Lastly, ChatGPT will restore the ability to switch to GPT-4o for Plus customers ($20/month plan). OpenAI originally only offered GPT-4o as an option for GPT-5 users for Pro customers ($200/month plan). GPT-4o will still be retired in time, but no hard date has been set for its retirement yet. And speaking of Plus customers, Sam Altman says ChatGPT will double the amount of GPT-5 usage Plus customers can access as the initial rollout wraps up.

Separately,9to5Mac first reported last night that Apple will upgrade ChatGPT integration within Apple Intelligence to GPT-5 starting with iOS 26. OpenAI also released two open weight models this week, including one that can run on Apple silicon Macs. The company also announced changes toencourage healthier ChatGPT usage this week.