OpenAI has released a new upgrade to ChatGPT that promises to offer users “a significant leap in intelligence” over previous models.

As part of the new release, dubbed GPT-5, the firm has eliminated the option to pick older versions of ChatGPT and has created a “single auto-switching system” that combines its previous models into a “faster, smarter model”.

GPT-5 will be able to assess whether it needs to spend longer to address more complex queries as required, while more typical tasks can be completed quickly. Pro subscribers to the platform will also get access to GPT‑5 Pro, a version with extended reasoning for more comprehensive and accurate answers.

AI chatbots have faced criticism in the past for including “hallucinations” in their responses that provide convincing, yet false, information to users. OpenAI said it has made “significant advances” in reducing hallucinations while improving its performance in writing, coding and answering health-related questions.

In a blog post announcing the new model, OpenAI demonstrated some simple games and tools coded by its new model that were derived from a single prompt. These included an endless runner type game, a drum simulator and a programme for creating pixel art.

Users will also be able to select different “personalities” for GPT-5, including cynic, robot, listener and nerd, which will alter the tone of their responses. Switching back to ChatGPT’s original style is still possible, however.

Next week, the firm will roll out the ability for Pro users to connect their Gmail and Google Calendar accounts to allow ChatGPT to provide information about key events, missed emails and more.

“GPT‑5 unites and exceeds OpenAI’s prior breakthroughs in frontier intelligence,” the post reads. “It arrives as organisations like BNY, California State University, Figma, Intercom, Lowe’s, Morgan Stanley, SoftBank, T-Mobile and more have already armed their workforces with AI – five million⁠ paid users now use ChatGPT business products – and begun to reimagine their operations on the API.

“GPT‑5 delivers leaps in accuracy, speed, reasoning, context recognition, structured thinking and problem-solving. The true magic will happen when businesses start applying GPT‑5 to imagine new use cases.”

In June, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman confirmed that his firm’s eyeball-scanning device, dubbed ‘The Orb’, would be rolled out in the UK. The Orb will be used to help distinguish real people from AI bots to help verify who is human online.