OpenAI’s next-generation frontier model, codenamed Orion and speculated to be GPT-5, is rumored for a December release, according to an exclusive report from The Verge. However, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has quickly dismissed the report as “fake news.” This leaves the actual release date and details surrounding Orion shrouded in uncertainty.
Initially, Orion is reportedly slated for release to select businesses and partners, rather than a public launch like previous GPT models. These partners would then utilize Orion as a platform to develop their own products and services, mirroring Nvidia’s strategy with its NVLM 1.0 large language models (LLMs). The Verge further suggests Microsoft plans to host the new model starting in November. Whether Orion will officially be named GPT-5 upon release remains unconfirmed, although it’s considered GPT-4’s successor internally.
Altman’s “fake news” tweet following the report didn’t specifically refute the December release timeline or any details in The Verge’s story. This ambiguity fuels speculation and leaves both the meaning of his statement and OpenAI’s plans for Orion unclear.
This follows OpenAI’s recent release of Project Strawberry (01 preview and 01-mini), designed for human-like reasoning and complex problem-solving across various domains. However, the 01 models haven’t achieved the same level of enthusiasm as GPT-4, partly due to limited functionality, inability to handle files or images, and higher operating costs.
Interestingly, Altman’s cryptic tweet about the Midwest sky and winter constellations, notably Orion, coincides with reports of Orion’s training completion using synthetic data generated by 01. This has led some to believe it hints at the upcoming release.
Rumors regarding GPT-5 have circulated since GPT-4’s launch, with initial predictions targeting a summer 2024 release. These predictions shifted to fall 2024, yet former CTO Mira Murati indicated a timeframe of a year and a half in June.
A December launch, coinciding with ChatGPT’s two-year anniversary, seems plausible. However, considering the inaccuracy of past predictions, a 2025 release remains equally possible. The ultimate release date of Orion, its features, and its impact on the AI landscape remain to be seen.
