Word on the street: someone at GitHub hit “publish” instead of “save.” The result: a brief peek into OpenAI’s next release.
According to the archived post, GPT‑5 isn’t a single, monolithic model; instead, it looks more like a product line: a full‑powered GPT‑5 for logic and multi‑step tasks, a “mini” for cost‑sensitive deployments, a “nano” optimized for speed, and a “chat” version designed for enterprise conversational workloads. The leak, which compares GPT‑5 favorably against Meta’s Llama 4 and Cohere v2, promises major improvements in reasoning and coding. It also hints at “enhanced agentic capabilities,” meaning the system can take more autonomous actions in a workflow.
If this is true, it suggests OpenAI is adopting a tiered pricing strategy. Reports point to different subscription levels that unlock different levels of reasoning power and access. That could make budgeting for AI a little more like buying software licences: base model at the entry tier, advanced reasoning and “research‑grade” intelligence at higher tiers. This, of course, raises questions about how to match cost to value.
OpenAI has confirmed none of this. A livestream event was scheduled for today, which is when the company is expected to make official announcements. Until then, treat this as what it is: a rumor. Leaks are fun, but they can mislead. I’ll report back after OpenAI’s announcement.
BTW, several years ago, while documenting workflows for a client’s marketing team, we asked an individual to describe their role; I quote: “Mostly, I press save and upload.” This is one of my favorite “you can’t make this stuff up” stories. I guess this person now works at GitHub.
Author’s note: This is not a sponsored post. I am the author of this article and it expresses my own opinions. I am not, nor is my company, receiving compensation for it. This work was created with the assistance of various generative AI models.
Shelly Palmer is the Professor of Advanced Media in Residence at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and CEO of The Palmer Group, a consulting practice that helps Fortune 500 companies with technology, media and marketing. Named LinkedIn’s “Top Voice in Technology,” he covers tech and business for Good Day New York, is a regular commentator on CNN and writes a popular daily business blog. He's a bestselling author, and the creator of the popular, free online course, Generative AI for Execs. Follow @shellypalmer or visit shellypalmer.com.
