Economist Podcasts Next top model: GPT-5 and its AI rivals
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Aug 12, 2025 
Alex Hearn, an AI writer for The Economist, dives into the fascinating world of generative AI, particularly OpenAI’s GPT-5 and its implications for society. He discusses how the advancements of GPT-5 enhance various fields, from healthcare to event planning, and explores the competitive AI landscape and emotional ties users have with technology. Hearn also examines Japan's shifting investment culture, revealing a growing enthusiasm among younger investors. Finally, he highlights the evolving realm of professional wrestling, marked by the rise of indie promotions amid declining traditional viewership.
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GPT-5 Is An Incremental Upgrade
- Alex Hearn says GPT-5 is an incremental upgrade, roughly two months better than recent systems.
- It improves coding and science benchmarks but remains evolutionary, not revolutionary.
Users Felt A Personality Transplant
- Users treated GPT-4o as friends or partners and felt hurt by GPT-5's personality change.
- Alex Hearn describes the release as a 'personality transplant' for those digital relationships.
AI Capability Doubles Every ~200 Days
- METR (Model Evaluation and Threat Research) shows AI task complexity doubles roughly every 200 days.
- Alex Hearn warns GPT-5 sits on that trending capability curve.