GPT-4.5 vs O1: OpenAI's Next Move or a Confusing Iteration?

The AI community is abuzz with speculation. Is GPT-4.5 on the horizon? How does it compare to OpenAI's O1 model? Across Reddit's AI-focused subreddits like r/OpenAI and r/singularity, users are diving deep into predictions, theories, and growing frustrations about what's next for OpenAI. At the heart of the conversation lies a mix of anticipation, confusion, and skepticism about whether OpenAI's latest updates are significant breakthroughs or simply incremental polish on existing models.

The Hype for GPT-4.5

The excitement began with hints of a GPT-4.5 release. Some users connected the dots between OpenAI's "12 Days of Shipping" event and the potential unveiling of a new model.

All signs point to a preview being shown or made available next week. As far as 4o goes they probably just want to upgrade it to keep their arena ranking.

Others pointed out the lack of "big" reveals during the event so far, speculating that OpenAI must have something substantial up its sleeve:

They drop O1 full on the first day so nobody has anything 'big' to look forward to for the rest of the 12 days? Isn't it obvious we're getting some preview or look at something big?

The hype isn't just about curiosity; it's fueled by a sense of expectation fatigue. Users expressed disappointment over previous OpenAI updates that felt incremental rather than groundbreaking:

We have essentially seen nothing 'new' yet. O1 has been announced before, same with Sora, same with AVM with vision. It would be ridiculous to not showcase anything new in the entire 12 days.

What Exactly Is O1? Clever Upgrade or Just Post-Training?

While the buzz around GPT-4.5 grows, the community remains divided on what OpenAI's O1 actually represents. Many believe it's not a fundamentally new model but rather a refinement of GPT-4o:

O1 is literally clever post-training for 4o. It's a new technique. An amazing, powerful new technique. But not a new architecture.

Others argue that O1 serves a different purpose, emphasizing reasoning and iterative prompts:

GPT-4x is the 'brain.' O1 is the 'loop over this problem, brain' drill sergeant.

This distinction matters because users aren't just looking for incremental improvements—they want clear leaps in model performance. One commenter captured the confusion and concern succinctly:

O1 doesn't feel like it's anywhere near the scale of a GPT-4 series model in terms of latent knowledge. Clever post-training for sure, but on top of something really dumb without it.

The Competitive Landscape: Google and Claude in the Rearview

Fueling the urgency behind GPT-4.5 is the competitive pressure from other AI labs like Google and Anthropic. Models such as Gemini Flash 2.0 and Claude have garnered praise for their performance, efficiency, and versatility:

Seems like O1 is getting beat in a lot of benchmarks by Google/Claude. OpenAI needs to pass Google with their next model update. But if 4.5 is better than O1, then why put all this focus on the O1 series?

Others see Google's speed and cost improvements as a clear sign of them pulling ahead:

Even though I think Flash is a little worse than O1 preview, the speed and 100x lower cost is insane. Google have taken the lead as far as I'm concerned.

A Growing Divide: Community Expectations vs. Reality

For OpenAI, this speculation represents both an opportunity and a challenge. Users have sky-high expectations, particularly as OpenAI positions itself as the leader in generative AI. The incremental updates seen in O1 leave some wondering if GPT-4.5 can close the gap.

There's also confusion over whether these models serve different purposes. As one user pointed out:

So if we have GPT 4.5 and we also have O1, what do we say the most advanced model is? Or are they meant for different things?

This ambiguity reflects a larger tension within the community: Is OpenAI's focus on improving existing models enough, or do users expect revolutionary breakthroughs every time?

The Road Ahead

As the speculation around GPT-4.5 intensifies, the AI community's frustration and curiosity continue to grow. Whether GPT-4.5 turns out to be a true leap forward or a carefully marketed iteration, one thing is clear: OpenAI has a lot to prove.

For now, the Reddit community waits, debates, and anticipates. As one commenter sums up:

Right, people don't get this. They just allowed the model to recurse on its own answers and decide when it's ready to emit the final answer. If they drop GPT-4.5, that will also improve O1 even further as now the base model is smarter as it iterates to an answer. I think that's the big surprise.

For those following this unfolding narrative, one question looms large: Is GPT-4.5 a step forward, or is OpenAI playing catch-up?

This article taps into the community's most pressing concerns and debates. If you'd like to dive into the Reddit discussions yourself, check out the posts that inspired this piece:

• We are never going to get GPT-4.5, are we?
• It seems we gonna get GPT 4.5 maybe !!
• We getting GPT 4.5 this week!