OpenAI Accelerated the Release of GPT-5.2, Betting on ChatGPT and Applied Tasks
OpenAI’s flagship model with a focus on practical use and stability
OpenAI introduced GPT-5.2 — an update to its flagship lineup focused not on showcasing capabilities, but on practical use in work scenarios. The release took place amid intensifying competition with Google and became part of an internal mobilization of the team.
In early December 2025, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced a “Code Red” inside the company. Employees’ main focus was shifted to improving the quality of ChatGPT, while a number of parallel projects were temporarily paused. Sources link this decision to Google’s rapid progress and the release of the Gemini 3 Pro model.
GPT-5.2 received notable improvements in tasks related to knowledge work: analysis and information search, translation, code generation, working with spreadsheets and presentations, as well as image processing. A separate emphasis was placed on stable performance with long context and handling complex multi-step requests.
According to the results of the internal GDPval benchmark, which includes tasks from 44 professional fields, GPT-5.2 reaches or exceeds the level of human specialists in 70.9% of cases. By comparison, GPT-5.1 scored 38.8% on this metric. In programming tasks, the quality improvement is estimated at about 5 percentage points.
The model is available in Instant, Thinking, and Pro variants for paid ChatGPT users, as well as via the API. OpenAI positions GPT-5.2 as a step toward a more reliable and predictable AI tool capable of competing with Google’s solutions not only in tests, but also in real work.
Model 5.2 is available to free users, but with limitations:
GPT-5.2 is included in the free plan and is used by default.
There is a limit: up to ~10 messages with GPT-5.2 every 5 hours, after which the chat automatically switches to a simplified version of the model.
Free users can use GPT-5.2 Instant / automatic adaptation, but not the full scope of all modes.
Deeper modes (for example, GPT-5.2 Pro) are only for paid subscriptions (Pro, Business and above).
