OpenAI’s Latest AI Models: GPT-4.1 and the Confusion Continues
Announcement and Key Features
On Monday, OpenAI announced the GPT-4.1 model family, its newest series of AI language models that brings a 1 million token context window to OpenAI for the first time. These models, GPT-4.1, GPT-4.1 mini, and GPT-4.1 nano, outperform GPT-4 in several key areas, according to OpenAI. The 1 million token context window allows these models to ingest roughly 3,000 pages of text in a single conversation, putting OpenAI’s context windows on par with Google’s Gemini models.
Availability and Limitations
However, in an unusual move, GPT-4.1 will only be available through the developer API, not in the consumer ChatGPT interface where most people interact with OpenAI’s technology. This means that developers will have access to these new models, but users who interact with OpenAI through ChatGPT will not be able to use them.
Retirement of GPT-4.5 Preview
At the same time, the company announced it will retire the GPT-4.5 Preview model in the API—a temporary offering launched in February that one critic called a “lemon”—giving developers until July 2025 to switch to something else. However, it appears GPT-4.5 will stick around in ChatGPT for now.
Confusing Product Names
A Legacy of Confusion
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman acknowledged OpenAI’s habit of terrible product names in February when discussing the roadmap toward the long-anticipated (and still theoretical) GPT-5.
“We realize how complicated our model and product offerings have gotten,” Altman wrote on X at the time, referencing a ChatGPT interface already crowded with choices like GPT-4o, various specialized GPT-4o versions, GPT-4o mini, the simulated reasoning o1-pro, o3-mini, and o3-mini-high models, and GPT-4. The stated goal for GPT-5 will be consolidation, a branding move to unify o-series models and GPT-series models.
Confusion and Uncertainty
So, how does launching another distinctly numbered model, GPT-4.1, fit into that grand unification plan? It’s hard to say. Altman foreshadowed this kind of ambiguity in March 2024, telling Lex Friedman the company had major releases coming but was unsure about names: “before we talk about a GPT-5-like model called that, or not called that, or a little bit worse or a little bit better than what you’d expect…”
Conclusion
OpenAI’s latest announcement has brought a new series of AI language models, but also more confusion about the company’s naming conventions. The availability and limitations of GPT-4.1, as well as the retirement of GPT-4.5 Preview, will likely have a significant impact on developers and users of OpenAI’s technology. As the company continues to evolve and consolidate its product offerings, it remains to be seen how GPT-4.1 will fit into the larger picture.
FAQs
Q: What are the key features of GPT-4.1?
A: GPT-4.1 has a 1 million token context window, allowing it to ingest roughly 3,000 pages of text in a single conversation.
Q: How will GPT-4.1 be available?
A: GPT-4.1 will only be available through the developer API, not in the consumer ChatGPT interface.
Q: What is happening to GPT-4.5 Preview?
A: The GPT-4.5 Preview model will be retired in the API, but will remain available in ChatGPT for now.
Q: Why are OpenAI’s product names so confusing?
A: OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, has acknowledged the company’s habit of using unclear and confusing product names, and has stated that the goal for GPT-5 will be to consolidate and unify the company’s model and product offerings.
