As someone who uses ChatGPT daily, from deep research and brainstorming to troubleshooting and yes, sometimes procrastinating, I’ve learned to spot real upgrades from surface-level ones.
With ChatGPT-5, the improvements are meaningful to the point that Sam Altman himself stated "You won't want to go back to GPT-4" during a briefing.
The model just feels sharper, more emotionally aware and much better at following through on complex and creative tasks.
If you’re wondering what sets GPT-5 apart, these are the features I’m most excited about, and how I’m already planning to use them in my daily workflow, mere hours after the model launched.
1. More focused creative thinking
One of the biggest changes I’ve noticed is how much better GPT-5 is at sustained creative thinking. In past versions, the model had a habit of drifting — you’d start with a clear concept and three generations later, it would be halfway to Mars. Now, it sticks with your voice, tone, and goals longer, which is a game-changer if you’re working on something like a novel, article, or screenplay.
When I’m writing fiction, GPT-5 tracks character motivations better. When I’m outlining a long-form feature, it actually helps develop the argument instead of repeating the intro. It doesn’t just spit out ideas — it helps refine them.
Pro tip: Ask ChatGPT-5 to “build on our previous version” or “revise this section without losing tone.” GPT-5 is noticeably better at staying anchored.
2. I’m not a coder — but I finally feel like I can build something
I’m not a developer by any stretch of the imagination. But with GPT-5, I’ve started dabbling in game design and website creation. That's how easy it is to conquer tasks like this with the latest model.
With earlier versions, I didn't really know where to start, whether it was helping me fix broken code or deciphering vague explanations. Now, GPT-5 walks me through the process like a patient tutor (a far cry from my computer science professor in college).
Now anyone can mock up simple browser games with JavaScript and customize website templates with HTML and CSS. It’s thrilling to create something from scratch, especially if you previously thought it was out of your skillset.
Pro tip: Ask GPT-5 to help you build a basic “click the cat” game or a personal landing page. You’ll be surprised how far you can go.
3. Voice mode is smoother, more human and weirdly comforting
I always use Voice Mode when I need to go hands-free. If I'm cooking dinner, driving or typing and don't want to stop, Voice is my go-to solution. It has completely changed how and when I interact with ChatGPT.
Now, with GPT-5, the voice feels noticeably more natural and emotionally responsive. During the livestream event, I instantly recognized the differences in the latest model.
Here's what I've noticed so far. If I’m overwhelmed or have any kind of stress in my voice, it slows down. If I’m excited or joking, it picks up on that, too. There’s less robotic back-and-forth and more of a real-time flow.
There are several Voice options to choose from, so depending on your personal preference, once you pick one, you'll see what I mean. It’s almost like talking to a very capable, never-annoyed friend (huge perk!) who happens to be great at summarizing PDFs or helping decide what's for dinner.
Bonus: Memory is finally pulling its weight
Memory has been around for a while in ChatGPT, and it's probably one of my favorite features. The fact that I don't have to repeat myself and I can bring up chats from days or even weeks ago, makes my workflow tighter.
But with GPT-5, it’s noticeably more useful and less intrusive. When enabled, the assistant remembers things, including your preferred tone, which makes it feel much more personal.
I'll admit, the personalization is subtle to a point that casual users might not recognize any change. But when you revisit a long-running task, you'll notice the continuity is there.
Bottom line
I've been playing around with ChatGPT-5 for less than three hours but I can already understand the hype. I also can see why it took so long to get here. ChatGPT feels like it's been reinvented and refined in all the best places.
It’s more collaborative, more emotionally intelligent and more capable of helping you finish what you start. Writers, coders (and wannabe coders), casual and power users, are sure to discover this is the version that feels like a creative partner.
While no AI is completely perfect, this model feels like a step in the right direction, one that's already changing the way I work.
More from Tom's Guide
- ChatGPT-5 features — here's the 5 upgrades I would try first
- ChatGPT-5 is here — 7 biggest upgrades you need to know
- Alexa+ accidentally ruined my kid’s birthday — here's how to stop it from happening to you
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