In the ever-evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, OpenAI has consistently pushed the boundaries of what's possible with large language models. However, their latest offering, GPT-4.5, has created a stir in the AI community for reasons that may surprise you. Despite being the most expensive model in OpenAI's lineup, GPT-4.5 has fallen short of the lofty expectations set by its predecessors and its premium price point. This paradox has left many AI enthusiasts, developers, and businesses puzzled and searching for answers.
The Promise of GPT-4.5
When OpenAI announced GPT-4.5 in late 2024, the AI world was abuzz with anticipation. Building on the success of GPT-4, this new iteration promised:
- Enhanced natural language processing capabilities
- Improved context understanding and retention
- More accurate and relevant outputs
- Better handling of complex, multi-step tasks
- Increased reliability and consistency
- Expanded multimodal capabilities
With these promises and a price tag to match, many expected GPT-4.5 to be a game-changer in the field of AI. However, the reality has proven to be quite different.
Unexpected Shortcomings
1. Diminishing Returns on Model Size
One of the primary issues with GPT-4.5 is the concept of diminishing returns. As language models grow larger and more complex, the improvements in performance begin to plateau. This phenomenon has been observed in GPT-4.5, where despite its increased size and computational requirements, the practical improvements over its predecessor are marginal at best.
AI Prompt Engineer Perspective:
As an AI prompt engineer working extensively with GPT-4.5 since its release, I've noticed that while it can handle more complex prompts, the quality of outputs doesn't significantly differ from GPT-4 for most common tasks. This raises questions about the cost-effectiveness of using such a large model for everyday applications.
To illustrate this point, let's look at a comparison of outputs for a creative writing task:
Prompt: "Generate a unique story idea involving time travel and a family secret."
GPT-4 Output: "In 2045, teenager Zoe discovers her grandmother's old smartwatch, which turns out to be a time-travel device. As Zoe explores different eras, she uncovers a family secret: her 'grandmother' is actually her future self, trapped in the past and trying to prevent a catastrophic event that will tear their family apart."
GPT-4.5 Output: "In 2050, Alex finds an antique pocket watch in the attic. Upon winding it, he's transported to 1985, where he meets his teenage parents. As he tries to return home, Alex uncovers a family secret: his father isn't his biological parent. The real father is a time traveler from 2100, stranded in the past, working to prevent a global disaster that would erase Alex from existence."
While both outputs are creative, the GPT-4.5 version doesn't demonstrate a significant leap in quality or originality that would justify its higher cost.
2. Increased Complexity Leading to Inconsistencies
Paradoxically, the increased complexity of GPT-4.5 has led to more inconsistencies in its outputs. The model sometimes struggles with maintaining coherence across longer conversations or documents, a problem that was less prevalent in its simpler predecessors.
AI Prompt Engineer Perspective:
I've encountered situations where GPT-4.5 contradicts itself more frequently than GPT-4, especially in extended dialogues. This requires more careful prompt engineering and output validation, which can be time-consuming and frustrating for users expecting a more reliable experience from a premium model.
Here's an example of inconsistency in a conversation about historical events:
Human: Who was the first president of the United States?
GPT-4.5: George Washington was the first president of the United States.
