OpenAI revises AI model release schedule: o3 and o4-mini arriving in weeks, GPT-5 to follow in a few months
Nickie Louise
Posted On April 4, 2025
OpenAI is switching things up. In a post shared on X, CEO Sam Altman announced that the company will release two new models—o3 and o4-mini in the next couple of weeks, with GPT-5 now expected a few months later.
“Change of plans: we are going to release o3 and o4-mini after all, probably in a couple of weeks, and then do GPT-5 in a few months,” Altman shared on X.
GPT-5 Coming In a Few Months
The updated timeline reflects OpenAI’s shift in focus—prioritizing deeper improvements to GPT-5 before launch. Altman said the extra time will allow the team to push beyond what they initially thought was possible with the next-gen model.
The move also signals a shift in strategy as OpenAI focuses on getting GPT-5 ready for what it expects will be a major surge in usage. While o3 and o4-mini weren’t initially on the immediate roadmap, the company has opted to ship them first while work on GPT-5 continues behind the scenes.
Why the change?
According to Altman, the decision wasn’t just about fixing bugs or polishing edges—it was about making GPT-5 significantly stronger than initially planned.
“There are a bunch of reasons for this, but the most exciting one is that we are going to be able to make GPT-5 much better than we originally thought,” he said.
GPT-4 pushed AI-generated language closer to human-level fluency, and if GPT-5 is already outperforming early benchmarks internally, it could raise the ceiling even further.
Altman also acknowledged some friction in the rollout process.
“We found it harder than we thought it was going to be to smoothly integrate everything,” he said.
It’s not just about releasing a smarter model—it’s about making sure it works well at scale. OpenAI is anticipating a wave of demand once GPT-5 launches, and Altman emphasized the need to get the infrastructure right:
“We are expecting unprecedented demand and want to make sure we have enough capacity.”
What’s up with o3 and o4-mini?
While most of the attention is on GPT-5, the arrival of o3 and o4-mini suggests OpenAI isn’t easing up. The company hasn’t shared specs or performance metrics yet, but based on the naming, these models may be intermediate versions or targeted upgrades—possibly more efficient, faster to deploy, or designed for specific tasks.
Launching them now helps maintain momentum—and user interest—while GPT-5 gets more time in development. It also positions OpenAI to stay competitive with rising challengers like Elon Musk’s xAI, which has been moving quickly in the generative AI race.
A bigger bet on GPT-5
OpenAI hasn’t officially detailed what GPT-5 will do better, but Altman’s comments suggest it’s shaping up to exceed internal benchmarks. Speculation includes improved context handling, fewer hallucinations, and smarter tools for enterprise and research users—maybe even built-in multimodal capabilities.
If the extra development time pays off, GPT-5 could push the industry forward again, especially if OpenAI avoids the server strain that plagued previous releases.
OpenAI’s balancing act
This revised timeline gives the company room to roll out something new now while preparing a more ambitious launch later. By releasing o3 and o4-mini ahead of GPT-5, OpenAI can keep users engaged, test infrastructure, and make sure it’s ready for whatever demand follows.
The company knows what happens when it’s caught unprepared. When ChatGPT first went viral, it stressed OpenAI’s systems. The goal this time: don’t repeat that mistake.
So for now, the plan is clear: launch o3 and o4-mini soon, and let anticipation for GPT-5 build.
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