OpenAI Just Released GPT-4.5: Here's What You Need to Know

OpenAI has just made GPT-4.5-Preview available through their API, marking the release of what they're calling their "largest model yet." As developers and AI enthusiasts rush to test its capabilities, the most striking detail isn't just the model's performance—it's the price tag.

The Premium Price Point

Let's address the elephant in the room first: GPT-4.5 is dramatically more expensive than its predecessor. Input tokens cost 75 USD per million compared to GPT-4o's 2.50 USD, while output tokens are priced at 150 USD per million versus just 10 USD for GPT-4o. That's a 30x increase for inputs and a 15x jump for outputs.

This pricing structure makes it clear that OpenAI isn't positioning this as a replacement for everyday applications, but rather as a specialized tool for high-value use cases where the improved capabilities justify the premium.

What Makes GPT-4.5 Different?

According to OpenAI, GPT-4.5 offers deeper world knowledge and better understands user intent. It's specifically designed for more natural conversation and excels at tasks requiring creativity, empathy, and broad general knowledge.

The model is being positioned for specific applications:

• Writing assistance
• Coaching
• Brainstorming
• Nuanced communication
• Understanding complex requests

For developers, it supports all the standard features expected in OpenAI's top-tier models: function calling, Structured Outputs, vision capabilities, streaming, system messages, and more.

Emotional Intelligence: The Standout Feature

While benchmark improvements across knowledge and reasoning tests are notable, what truly stands out in my testing is GPT-4.5's emotional intelligence. When responding to queries with emotional content, GPT-4.5 demonstrates a much more nuanced understanding of the feelings behind the words.

Check how differently GPT-4.5 and GPT-4o respond to my test prompt here

In my video, I demonstrate a side-by-side comparison where the difference becomes immediately apparent. GPT-4.5 feels less like it's following a template for emotional support and more like it genuinely understands the human experience behind the query.

Is OpenAI Committed to GPT-4.5?

Interestingly, OpenAI has indicated they're "evaluating whether to continue serving it in the API" long-term as they balance supporting current capabilities with building future models. This suggests GPT-4.5 might be a transitional offering—perhaps a glimpse of capabilities they're developing for GPT-5 or other future models.

The Bigger Picture: Foundation for Future AI

Perhaps the most exciting aspect of GPT-4.5 isn't what it can do today, but what it represents for the future of AI development. If this model serves as the foundation for specialized reasoning systems, we could see extraordinarily powerful models that combine deep emotional understanding with advanced problem-solving capabilities.

The combination of improved knowledge representation, nuanced understanding of context, and emotional intelligence, when paired with specialized reasoning layers, could potentially create AI systems that both truly understand people and tackle complex technical challenges effectively.

Should You Use GPT-4.5?

The answer depends entirely on your use case and budget. For applications where emotional intelligence, nuanced communication, and creativity are paramount—and where the cost can be justified by the value delivered—GPT-4.5 may be worth considering.

For most standard applications, GPT-4o likely remains the more practical choice given the massive price difference. And for specialized technical applications requiring precise reasoning, you might be better served waiting to see if GPT-4.5 becomes the foundation for more specialized models in the future.

See It in Action

I've put together a comprehensive breakdown of GPT-4.5's capabilities, with side-by-side comparisons demonstrating exactly what improvements you can expect over GPT-4o. The video also explores what this release might mean for the future of AI development and whether the premium price point is justified.

Watch the complete video below (~4min):

What do you think about GPT-4.5's release? Is the dramatic price increase justified by its improvements in emotional intelligence and knowledge depth?

Let me know in the comments on the video!