At this week’s KDDI Summit 2024 in Japan, OpenAI was presenting “GPT Next” to Japan CEO Tadao Nagasaki. Everyone thought this name was a new model of artificial intelligence. But GPT Next turned out to be a major update, not a new AI model. The CEO then found himself at the center of a misunderstanding.
OpenAI quickly moved to clarify the situation. According to OpenAI’s spokesperson, the term “GPT Next” mentioned during Nagasaki’s presentation was only figurative. It was not the name of an actual model in development. The term was used to indicate how future models might evolve, not to announce a new product. The spokesperson also confirmed that the accompanying graphic, which led some to believe that it was a timeline for future model releases, was purely illustrative.
OpenAI Japanの長崎代表「いずれ出てくる『GPT Next』というAIモデルは、過去の実績から見て100倍近く進化していく。AIというテクノロジーは従来のソフトウェアと違い、指数関数的に成長する。」https://t.co/k65IGx0EXb
明確にスライドには2024"GPT Next"と記載されている。… pic.twitter.com/f23zpPKwbB— bioshok(INFJ) (@bioshok3) September 3, 2024
GPT Next is not a name, it’s an update
Despite the initial confusion, the buzz surrounding “GPT Next” raises a broader question: where exactly is OpenAI headed with its future models? While “GPT Next” isn’t a real model, Nagasaki’s comments reflected the ongoing, rapid development within AI technology. He described how OpenAI expects its models to evolve exponentially, leaving traditional software advancements far behind.
Nagasaki is reported to have said that the evolution of AI technology will produce models that are almost 100 times more powerful than current models. While some observers took this as a reference to a truly new model, it was more of a comment on the huge potential that AI will have shortly. It remains unclear when the GPT-5 will be revealed and what its name will be.
New Model UPDATE Alert 🚨
Jimmy is seeing better math reasoning, updated formatting, more creative and fun update in ChatGPT with anonymous model upgrade this week.
We probably would need to wait for OpenAI Newsroom to confirm if it is GPT-4 Next, GPT5 or Orion.
Better math… https://t.co/aiCQfg6zOz pic.twitter.com/eVgjAvhZZE
— Prashant | AI (@Prashant_1722) September 5, 2024
The lingering curiosity about GPT-5
While the term “GPT Next” does not indicate a new version, the AI community is still eager to hear more about GPT-5. OpenAI has largely kept details about the project under wraps, with CEO Sam Altman stating only that GPT-5 will represent a “significant leap forward”. Meanwhile, OpenAI’s CTO Mira Murati gave a hint of what might be on the horizon, stating that GPT-5 will have “PhD-level intelligence”.
But for now, GPT-4o remains OpenAI’s most advanced AI model. It is a versatile tool that combines text, image, and voice to create a powerful multimodal platform. It makes more sense to expect updates to the current version than the release of GPT-5.
Project Strawberry and future AI advancements
Amid all the hubbub about GPT Next, another OpenAI project is attracting attention: Project Strawberry. Although little is officially known, Project Strawberry has been the subject of considerable anticipation, with rumors that it will offer multi-step reasoning capabilities.
OpenAI has not confirmed whether Project Strawberry will be integrated into future models like the GPT-5, but the project points to the company’s ambition to create more sophisticated AI tools. Despite some investors’ waning enthusiasm for AI startups, OpenAI is in talks with big tech giants like Apple, Nvidia, and Microsoft for a new round of funding that could take its valuation to $100 billion.
While the excitement around “GPT Next” was a misunderstanding, it also provided us with other information. The company’s leaders have made it clear that AI will continue to grow exponentially, meaning we could soon see models far more advanced than anything available today.
Whether through the anticipated GPT-5 or the mysterious Project Strawberry, OpenAI’s influence in the world of AI is undeniable. Despite the confusion over GPT Next, one thing is certain: people are watching OpenAI’s every move with great interest. The world may not have a new model yet, but with so many projects in the pipeline, it seems only a matter of time before the next breakthrough arrives. GPT Next is not the model name, but we now know what it is.
Featured image credit: Freepik
