“GPT-5s Are Alive: Synthesis” by Zvi

What do I ultimately make of all the new versions of GPT-5?

The practical offerings and how they interact continues to change by the day. I expect more to come. It will take a while for things to settle down.

I’ll start with the central takeaways and how I select models right now, then go through the type and various questions in detail.

Table of Contents

1. Central Takeaways.


2. Choose Your Fighter.


3. Official Hype.


4. Chart Crime.


5. Model Crime.


6. Future Plans For OpenAI's Compute.


7. Rate Limitations.


8. The Routing Options Expand.


9. System Prompt.


10. On Writing.


11. Leading The Witness.


12. Hallucinations Are Down.


13. Best Of All Possible Worlds?.



14. Timelines.


15. Sycophancy Will Continue Because It Improves Morale.


16. Gaslighting Will Continue.


17. Going Pro.


18. Going Forward.

Central Takeaways

My central takes [...]

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Outline:

(00:33) Central Takeaways

(02:55) Choose Your Fighter

(05:43) Official Hype

(21:25) Chart Crime

(27:19) Model Crime

(28:09) Future Plans For OpenAI's Compute

(30:49) Rate Limitations

(32:19) The Routing Options Expand

(33:57) System Prompt

(35:14) On Writing

(41:01) Leading The Witness

(41:59) Hallucinations Are Down

(43:17) Best Of All Possible Worlds?

(47:53) Timelines

(58:25) Sycophancy Will Continue Because It Improves Morale

(01:00:22) Gaslighting Will Continue

(01:01:01) Going Pro

(01:04:09) Going Forward

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First published:

August 13th, 2025

Source:

https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/4wYKkbkHooeQ4xznf/gpt-5s-are-alive-synthesis

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Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.

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