GPT-4.5: A Step Forward, But at a Price

By Adam Pease

 

GPT-4.5: A Step Forward, But at a Price

OpenAI has launched GPT-4.5, touting it as its “most knowledgeable model yet” while clarifying that it’s not a frontier AI. It comes on the heels of new releases by Anthropic and X AI. The release has drawn mixed reactions—users praise its improved writing and emotional nuance but express frustration over its high cost.

Stronger Writing, Steep Price

GPT-4.5 excels at generating more natural, engaging responses, making it a useful tool for writing, programming, and problem-solving. OpenAI claims a 10x improvement in computational efficiency, but many users question whether the upgrade justifies the expense. CEO Sam Altman himself called it a “giant, expensive model,” reinforcing concerns about accessibility.

Not a Frontier Model

While GPT-4.5 is OpenAI’s largest model, it lacks the groundbreaking advancements seen in its o1 and o3-mini models. Initially, OpenAI noted that GPT-4.5 underperformed on key evaluations, though this was later removed from official statements. Rather than a leap in reasoning, the focus appears to be on usability and alignment.

Fewer Hallucinations, More Questions

OpenAI says GPT-4.5 hallucinates less than GPT-4o and o1, making it more reliable for enterprise users. However, with GPT-5 rumored to arrive soon, some wonder whether GPT-4.5 is worth the investment or simply a temporary bridge to the next major release.

The Bottom Line

GPT-4.5 refines AI interactions but doesn’t redefine them. While its improvements in writing and accuracy are welcome, its cost and lack of cutting-edge reasoning advancements leave many users questioning its value. As AI evolves, balancing performance, affordability, and accessibility remains a growing challenge.