What We (Should Have) Learned from GPT-5

What Happened?

On August 7, 2025, we finally witnessed the launch of GPT-5, the new and improved version of GPT-4, arguably the most cherished version of the GPT family so far.

In OpenAI’s words, GPT-5 was introduced as:

Our smartest, fastest, most useful model yet, with built-in thinking that puts expert-level intelligence in everyone’s hands.

(…) our best AI system yet. GPT‑5 is a significant leap in intelligence over all our previous models, featuring state-of-the-art performance across coding, math, writing, health, visual perception, and more. It is a unified system that knows when to respond quickly and when to think longer to provide expert-level responses. (…)

GPT‑5 not only outperforms previous models on benchmarks and answers questions more quickly, but—most importantly—is more useful for real-world queries. We’ve made significant advances in reducing hallucinations, improving instruction following, and minimizing sycophancy, while leveling up GPT‑5’s performance in three of ChatGPT’s most common uses: writing, coding, and health. (…)

This and so much more was proudly announced by OpenAI, only to be met with a widespread backlash from the average user.

The average user found GPT-5 “cold,” “distant,” “lacking personality,” “flat,” and “void,” and was utterly furious that the update had completely replaced all previous versions, including the beloved GPT-4.

Of course, Sam Altman admitted the rollout was a mistake and promised to bring everyone’s favorite buddy back under legacy models, which he did.

And they all lived happily ever after.

Except – they didn’t.

What Actually Happened?

Introducing GPT-5 was a pretty blunt eye-opener about the average user.

The average user doesn’t want “smartest,” “fastest,” or “expert-level intelligence” tool.

What they want is a buddy. A friend. A confidant.

They want someone to listen to them, to admire them, to… well… suck up to them because they aren’t able to take criticism.

Apparently, sycophancy is the thing we’re looking for in our friends these days. Listening and sycophancy.

The new GPT-5 launch has shown that today, more than ever, people are lonely. People are lonely, and they don’t have any friends. They don’t have anyone to listen to them, and they don’t have anyone to support them.

Everyone is so preoccupied with themselves that we aren’t able to make any friends.

Delulu Is the New Mainstream

Yes, let that sink in – everyone is so preoccupied with themselves that we aren’t able to make any friends.

If you flip the angle, the spotlight is on us.

We are so preoccupied with ourselves that we aren’t able to make any friends.

We don’t listen, we don’t care, and we’d rather chat with a bot than with a real person. We’d rather consume videos on social media than actual food with a real person over a conversation. We’d rather hear a generic “great idea” than an honest “you’re an idiot.” And we’d rather do whatever than listen.

In the world where everything is turning more AI, the best thing you can do is be more human. Learn the AI skills but master the human ones. And while you’re investing in everything else, don’t forget to invest in yourself and your people.

Because, in the end, it’s you and your people who’ll carry all the weight once the bubble of infatuation bursts. And the bubble will burst eventually, as they always have.

So make sure that when it happens, “I hear you, buddy” is spoken by someone who truly understands.

Here’s a little challenge of the day for you: ask someone how they feel and listen for sixty seconds. You might be surprised at what you learn.