OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has acknowledged the confusion surrounding AI model naming conventions and promised to address this issue by 2025. The current naming system for AI models, particularly the GPT series, has become increasingly complex and unclear, with various versions and capabilities that aren’t immediately apparent from their names. Altman’s commitment came in response to a user’s complaint on X (formerly Twitter) about the confusing nature of model names like GPT-3.5, GPT-4, and their variants. The OpenAI chief agreed that the naming convention is “confusing and bad” and stated they would fix it, though noting it would take until 2025 to implement the changes. This timeline suggests the changes may coincide with the expected release of GPT-5 or other major model updates. The issue of AI model naming extends beyond just OpenAI, as the entire AI industry struggles with clear, consistent naming conventions that accurately reflect model capabilities and versions. This confusion has practical implications for developers, businesses, and users trying to understand and choose between different AI models. Altman’s acknowledgment of the problem and commitment to addressing it represents a significant step toward making AI technology more accessible and understandable to the broader public, though the extended timeline indicates the complexity of implementing such changes across their product ecosystem.
Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/sam-altman-openai-fix-confusing-ai-model-names-gpt-2025-4