GPT-5 Unveiled: All the New Features, Detailed Prompts, and Key Limitations

Discover everything about GPT-5: how to access it for free, Auto/Fast/Thinking modes, practical prompts for learning, coding, planning, and gaming, plus critical limitations you should know.

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8/13/20254 min read

On August 7, 2025, OpenAI officially launched GPT-5, introducing a unified, intelligent system capable of automatically switching between rapid and deep reasoning modes depending on the task. Marketed as faster, smarter, and more capable than previous versions, GPT-5 promises expert-level performance in coding, writing, research, and more. In this article, we’ll explore how to access it, its standout new features, practical prompts you can try today, and the main criticisms it has faced.

Accessing GPT-5: Modes and Plans

OpenAI has overhauled how users access its models in ChatGPT 5. Gone are the days of manually selecting from a confusing list of models — the system now intelligently chooses the most suitable mode for your request. Whether you’re a casual user, a regular subscriber, or a professional, there’s a plan to fit your needs and budget.

Free access: GPT-5 is the default model, with lighter “mini” and “nano” variants for simpler tasks. You can send around 10 messages every 5 hours with GPT-5, plus 1 message per day in “Thinking” (deep reasoning) mode.
Plus plan (~$20/month): expanded access to “Fast” and “Thinking” modes, with up to 3,000 Thinking messages per week before switching to “Thinking-mini.”
Pro plan (~$200/month): essentially unlimited access to GPT-5 and GPT-5 Pro, designed for advanced reasoning and high-volume tasks.
Automatic mode selection: the system switches seamlessly between “Auto,” “Fast,” and “Thinking” depending on the complexity of your query, balancing speed and depth.

Core GPT-5 Improvements

• Unified model with intelligent routing

GPT-5 merges a fast-response model and a deep reasoning model under an automatic router that decides in real time which to use, based on context and complexity.

• Higher performance

Stronger coding skills, from frontend generation to debugging.
More accurate responses, with fewer hallucinations.
Capable of expert-level reasoning in domains like healthcare and law.

• Extended context window

Supports up to 400,000 tokens (272K input + 128K output), enabling it to process lengthy documents and maintain context over extended conversations.

• Integration and agency

GPT-5 can function as an “agent,” generating code, building interfaces, or interacting directly with connected apps and APIs — integrating with Microsoft Copilot, GitHub, Azure, and more.

Practical Use Cases with Detailed Prompts

A. Study & Learn Mode

Prompt: I want to learn how to bake homemade bread. Start by asking my skill level, then give me the list of ingredients, necessary tools, and guide me step by step — confirming my understanding at each stage.

GPT-5 starts with a quick assessment of your knowledge, then delivers an interactive, step-by-step learning session — much like a personal tutor.

B. Build a Pong Game in HTML/CSS/JS

Prompt:

Create a Pong game in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript with:

Two players on the same keyboard
Rounded paddles and ball
Gradient colors and shadow effects
Animated or dynamic gradient background
Score at the top in a modern font
Ball with a glowing trail
Ball speed increasing slightly after each bounce
All code in a single HTML file runnable in a browser

Within seconds, GPT-5 generates hundreds of lines of functional code, ready to run and modify.

Try my Pong version : https://chatgpt.com/canvas/shared/689c8ac0c9708191bbc363fefaea3483

C. Personal Expense Tracker

Prompt:

You are an expert in advanced Excel file creation, data visualization, and personal financial management. Create a complete and optimized Excel file to manage my personal finances.

The file should:

Include multiple tabs:

Monthly income tracking
Monthly expense tracking (categorized: housing, food, transport, entertainment, savings, debt, other)
Automatic annual report
Budget forecasting
Financial goals and savings tracking

Include interactive charts and dashboards:

Pie chart of expenses by category
Monthly income/expense trend graph
Visual indicators (traffic lights or gauges) showing budget status
Clear, attractive main dashboard with key data

Advanced features:

Automatic formulas for balances, percentages, and variances
Conditional formatting to highlight anomalies or over-budget categories
Filter system by month, year, and category

Professional and readable design:

Harmonious color palette
Clear, intuitive layout
Modern charts

Instructions tab:

Add a “Guide” tab explaining how to use and customize the file

Deliver the final Excel file (.xlsx) ready to use with all these features.

The result: a pre-formatted Excel file with formulas and graphs, perfect for personal budgeting.

D. Advanced Voice Assistant (ChatGPT Voice)

Prompt (spoken):

Hi, give me a creative eco-friendly business idea!

GPT-5 responds instantly with a human-like tone, making conversations natural and engaging — ideal for brainstorming hands-free.

Limitations and Criticism

While GPT-5 is marketed as a major improvement — faster, safer, and smarter — many users and experts have noted persistent shortcomings.

• Loss of personality and negative feedback

Many miss GPT-4o’s warmer tone. Some Reddit users described GPT-5 as:

“It feels emotionally distant”
“If you hate nuance and feeling things.”
OpenAI has since restored GPT-4o for paying users and promised a warmer, more customizable GPT-5.

• Bugs, errors, and inconsistent performance

Users reported occasional wrong or incoherent answers, even for simple tasks. OpenAI admitted a temporary issue with the automatic router that made GPT-5 “way dumber” for a period. The backlash led to Plus user cancellations, prompting OpenAI to promise more customization, model choice, and higher quotas.

• Chaotic launch and unmet expectations

Some observers felt GPT-5’s release was rushed. The New Yorker even suggested it might reflect a slowdown in AI progress, with only marginal performance gains. Platformer News called the launch confusing, saying forcing everyone onto GPT-5 without keeping previous versions made some feel betrayed.

• Security and robustness concerns for enterprise

Security reviews found GPT-5 still vulnerable to prompt injection, jailbreaks, and context leaks, making it risky for some professional environments.

Conclusion

GPT-5 offers a smoother, smarter, and more versatile ChatGPT experience. The automatic routing system, extended context window, and integration capabilities make it a powerful daily tool — whether for learning, coding, planning, or creative projects. However, its launch also highlights the importance of balancing innovation with user trust, maintaining warmth and personality, and ensuring robust safeguards for professional use.

Try ChatGPT 5 : https://chatgpt.com/