How OpenAI's Latest Model Will Impact ChatGPT

OpenAI is having a hell of a day. First, the company announced a $1 billion equity investment from Disney, alongside a licensing deal that will let Sora users generate videos with characters like Mickey Mouse, Luke Skywalker, and Simba. Shortly after, OpenAI revealed its latest large language model: GPT-5.2.

OpenAI says that this new GPT model is particularly useful for "professional knowledge work." The company advertises how GPT-5.2 is better than previous models at making spreadsheets, putting together presentations, writing code, analyzing pictures, and working through multi-step projects. For this model, the company also gathered insights from tech companies: Supposedly, Notion, Box Shopify, Harvey, and Zoom all find GPT-5.2 to have "state-of-the-art long-horizon reasoning," while Databricks, Hex, and Triple Whale believe GPT-5.2 to be "exceptional" with both agentic data science and document analysis tasks.

But most of OpenAI's user base aren't professionals. Most of the users who will interact with GPT-5.2 are using ChatGPT, and many of those for free, at that. What can those users expect when OpenAI upgrades the free version of ChatGPT with these new models?

How GPT-5.2 performs in ChatGPT

OpenAI says that GPT-5.2 will improve ChatGPT's "day to day" functionality. The new model supposedly makes the chatbot more structured, reliable, and "enjoyable to talk to," though I've never found the last part to be necessarily true.

GPT-5.2 will impact the ChatGPT experience differently depending on which of the three models you happen to be using. According to OpenAI, GPT-5.2 Instant is for "everyday work and learning." It's apparently better for questions seeking information about certain subjects, how-to questions and walkthroughs, technical writing, and translations—maybe ChatGPT will get you to give up your Duolingo obsession.

GPT-5.2 Thinking, however, is supposedly made for "deeper work." OpenAI wants you using this model for coding, summarizing lengthy documents, answering queries about files you send to ChatGPT, solving math and logic problems, and decision making. Finally, there's GPT-5.2 Pro, OpenAI's "smartest and most trustworthy option" for the most complicated questions. The company says 5.2 Pro produces fewer errors and stronger performance compared to previous models.

GPT-5.2's safety policy

OpenAI says that this latest update improves how the models responds to distressing prompts, such as those showing signs of suicide, self-harm, or emotional dependence on the AI. As such, the company says this model has "fewer undesirable responses" in GPT-5.2 Instant and Thinking compared to GPT-5.1 Instant and Thinking. In addition, the company is working on an "age prediction model," which will automatically place content restrictions on users who the model think are under 18.

These safety improvements are important—critical, even—as we start to understand the correlations between chatbots and mental health. The company has admitted its failure in "recognizing signs of delusion," as users turned to the tool for emotional support. In some cases, ChatGPT fed into delusional thinking, encouraging people's dangerous beliefs. Some families have even sued companies like OpenAI over claims that their chatbots helped or encouraged victims commit suicide.

Actively acknowledging improvements to user safety is undoubtedly a good thing, but I think companies like OpenAI still have a lot to reckon with—and a long way to go.

OpenAI says GPT-5.2 Instant, Thinking, and Pro will all roll out today, Thursday, Dec. 11, to paid plans. Developers can access the new models in the API today, as well.

Disclosure: Lifehacker’s parent company, Ziff Davis, filed a lawsuit against OpenAI in April, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

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