OpenAI Chief Research Officer Mark Chen: GPT 4.5 is Live and Scaling Isn’t Dead
Feb 27, 2025
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Mark Chen, Chief Research Officer at OpenAI, dives into the launch of GPT 4.5, the company's most advanced model yet. He discusses the scaling challenges faced in AI development and the significance of emotional intelligence in models today. Chen explores the balance between product performance and foundational models, emphasizing how advancements can reshape user interactions. He also highlights OpenAI's talent dynamics post-departures, providing insights into the future of AI and the commitment to pushing boundaries.
GPT 4.5 marks a significant advancement in OpenAI's large language models, showcasing improved computational efficiency and enhanced emotional intelligence capabilities.
The integration of scaling traditional models with advanced reasoning functionalities exemplifies OpenAI's dual approach to meet both user needs and broader research objectives.
Deep dives
Release of GPT 4.5 marks significant progress
GPT 4.5 represents a major milestone in OpenAI's development of large language models, highlighting an order of magnitude improvement over prior versions such as GPT 3.5 and GPT 4. This iteration follows a predictable scaling paradigm, integrating enhanced computational efficiency and refined data inputs. By aligning its capabilities with user expectations and real-world applicability, GPT 4.5 aims to bridge the gap between everyday functionality and advanced reasoning. The advancements make it the largest and most capable model the company has released to date, showcasing the continuing evolution of AI technologies.
The dual focus on scaling and reasoning
OpenAI has approached the development of its models by exploring two distinct avenues: scaling computational power and advancing reasoning capabilities. While GPT 4.5 exemplifies continued progress in unsupervised learning, recent efforts have also been channeled into enhancing reasoning functionalities. This strategic dual focus allows for the integration of comprehensive knowledge, leading to more nuanced interactions and applications in various sectors. The team's commitment to developing these paradigms simultaneously positions them to respond effectively to both immediate user needs and broader research goals.
Empathy and creativity in model performance
One of the notable improvements in GPT 4.5 is its heightened emotional intelligence and creative capabilities compared to earlier models. The model has demonstrated a significantly better understanding of user emotions, offering concise yet compassionate responses in challenging situations. For example, users have reported that GPT 4.5 produces improved outputs in creative writing and technical coding tasks, significantly outperforming previous versions. These advancements indicate not only a technical leap but also the potential for more meaningful and impactful engagements between AI and users.
Mark Chen is the chief research officer at OpenAI. Chen joins Big Technology Podcast to discuss the debut of GPT 4.5, the company's largest model, which is going live today. In this bonus episode, Chen speaks about what the new model says about the AI scaling wall, how scaling traditional GPT models compares to reasoning models like OpenAI's o1, how important EQ is for AI models today, whether product matters more than models, and how OpenAI's talent bench looks after last year's departures. Tune in for an inside look at what it took to build OpenAI's newest and biggest large language model, and why OpenAI is committed to pushing the frontier forward.
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