On February 27, 2025, OpenAI introduced its most advanced artificial intelligence model to date: GPT-4.5. This model has been released as a “research preview,” which means it’s available for public use but still being studied for improvements. Developers can now access it through OpenAI’s API, and users of ChatGPT Plus can try it out as well.

OpenAI claims GPT-4.5 marks a major leap forward in AI capabilities. But it has also sparked heated conversations about its cost. Some users are excited about its speed and power, while others are concerned about whether the new model is truly worth the higher price tag.

While the model boasts significant improvements in language processing, many users express disappointment over its steep pricing—with costs soaring up to 20x higher than GPT-4. Is GPT-4.5 truly a breakthrough in AI, or is it an overpriced upgrade that fails to justify its cost? In this article, we’ll analyze its new features, strengths, and controversies, helping you decide if it’s worth the investment.

AI has transformed industries since June 2018, when its first significant breakthroughs emerged. OpenAI has led the charge with its groundbreaking models:

• GPT-3 (2020) – Introduced high-level language understanding.
• GPT-3.5 (2022) – Enhanced contextual comprehension.
• GPT-4 (2023) – Reduced hallucinations and improved response quality.

Despite its strengths, GPT-4 faced limitations, including:
– Struggles with long-form context retention
– Occasional hallucinations (providing inaccurate information)
– Lack of full multimodal capabilities (text, image, and voice integration)

GPT-4.5 is multimodal, which means it can handle different types of input: not just text, but also images and voice. You could send it a picture and ask it to describe what’s in the photo. Or you might speak a question, and it can respond with a spoken answer.

This makes GPT-4.5 useful for more creative and complex tasks, like helping design visuals, understanding diagrams, or holding natural-sounding conversations.

One of the most exciting features is the longer memory. GPT-4.5 can handle up to 256,000 tokens (roughly equal to about 200,000 words) in a single session. This means it can remember much more of what was said earlier in a conversation, making it great for writing long documents, analyzing research papers, or carrying on detailed chats.

OpenAI says GPT-4.5 gives answers that are 30% more accurate than GPT-4. This means fewer mistakes or hallucinations, where the model makes up facts or gives wrong information.

GPT-4.5 is 40% faster than GPT-4. This is a big deal for developers building apps and for anyone using AI for daily tasks like writing emails, creating lesson plans, or summarizing articles.

It’s now easier to connect GPT-4.5 to other apps and services using OpenAI’s improved API (Application Programming Interface). This makes it ideal for businesses that want to automate customer service, data analysis, or even creative writing with AI.

Despite all these powerful features, GPT-4.5 has come under fire for its high cost. Here’s why:

• The API pricing (used by developers to connect GPT-4.5 to their apps) is up to 20 times higher than GPT-4.
• The ChatGPT Plus subscription that gives access to GPT-4.5 also increased in price, making it harder for students, independent creators, and everyday users to afford it.

This has caused many users to ask:

Is GPT-4.5 really worth it, or is it just another expensive update?

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman responded to the backlash by saying:

“We believe GPT-4.5 brings AI closer to human-level understanding of language and context.”

f you’re a developer, business owner, or tech enthusiast who needs high-powered AI, GPT-4.5 might be a great investment. It’s smarter, faster, and more capable than any GPT before it.

But if you’re a student, a teacher, or a content creator on a budget, you might want to wait and see if a more affordable version comes out later. GPT-4.5 is impressive, but the price may put it out of reach for now.

As AI keeps improving, the hope is that these tools will become more accessible to everyone, not just large companies. For now, GPT-4.5 is both an exciting leap forward—and a reminder that technology comes with trade-offs.

Sources & References

“GPT-4.5 reduces hallucination rates by 30%, according to OpenAI’s official blog post (OpenAI, 2025).”

OpenAI Blog – “Introducing GPT-4.5: A research preview of our strongest GPT model” (Feb 27, 2025)

MIT Technology Review – “OpenAI just released GPT-4.5 and says it is its biggest and best chat model yet” (Feb 27, 2025)

Venture Beat AI – “GPT-4.5 for enterprise: Do its accuracy and knowledge justify the cost?” (Feb 28, 2025)

GPT-4.5 introduces groundbreaking features but also raises serious pricing concerns. While businesses and developers may embrace it, general users are left questioning:

🔹 Is GPT-4.5 truly worth the upgrade, or is it just an expensive AI model that limits accessibility?

💬 What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments! And don’t forget to subscribe to AI Brief Now for the latest AI updates! 🚀