Microsoft Insider Hints at Imminent GPT-4.5 and GPT-5 Release

Microsoft is actively preparing its server infrastructure for OpenAI’s upcoming AI models. According to sources, GPT-4.5 could launch as early as next week, while GPT-5 is expected by late May.

GPT-4.5, internally codenamed Orion, will be OpenAI’s last model without chain-of-thought reasoning. While exact specs remain unknown, OpenAI has hinted that GPT-4.5 will be significantly more powerful than GPT-4, though the main focus remains on GPT-5, which is expected to bring major improvements.

Microsoft’s timeline aligns with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s previous statements, suggesting a GPT-5 release in "a few months." If it debuts in late May, it would coincide with Microsoft Build, starting on May 19—a key event, especially as OpenAI faces growing competition from Google I/O.

GPT-5 will be OpenAI’s first model to merge the "o" and GPT series, simplifying model selection for users. Altman has emphasized OpenAI’s shift toward a unified AI system, eliminating the need to choose between different versions. Additionally, GPT-5 will integrate o3’s advanced reasoning capabilities.

Unlike the sudden GPT-4o launch, which disrupted Azure’s paid AI services, Microsoft is fully aligned with OpenAI’s roadmap this time. The company is also revamping Copilot, focusing on a more intuitive user experience—recently removing AI mode options (“creative,” “balanced,” and “precise”) in favor of a more streamlined interaction model.