OpenAI is phasing out GPT-4.5 for developers

Engadget - Apr 14th, 2025

OpenAI has announced the transition from its GPT-4.5 model to the newer GPT-4.1 model in its developer API. The decision comes as GPT-4.1 promises enhanced capabilities, including improved coding skills, long context understanding, and the ability to process up to one million tokens of context. This model, only available for developers using OpenAI's API, is offered in three variations: GPT-4.1, GPT-4.1 mini, and GPT-4.1 nano. OpenAI highlights that GPT-4.1 is 26 percent cheaper to run than its predecessors for median queries, making it a more cost-effective option for developers looking to build sophisticated AI agents, particularly in software engineering environments. The company plans to fully phase out GPT-4.5 by July 14, 2025, while the GPT-4.5 preview remains accessible in the ChatGPT interface for general use.

This transition highlights OpenAI's focus on efficiency and capability enhancement in AI models, reflecting a broader trend toward optimizing performance while reducing costs. The introduction of GPT-4.1 aligns with the growing demand for AI solutions that can handle complex tasks and large datasets efficiently. This development is significant for developers and businesses relying on AI to streamline operations and innovate within their industries. By providing a more powerful and affordable tool, OpenAI reinforces its position as a leader in the AI field, influencing how AI technology is developed and implemented globally.

Technology Open Ai Artificial Intelligence Gpt 4.5 Api Gpt 4.1 Software Engineering

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

6.2

Moderately Fair

Read with skepticism

The article provides a clear and timely overview of OpenAI's transition from GPT-4.5 to GPT-4.1, highlighting the new model's efficiency and cost benefits. While it effectively communicates technical information to a general audience, it lacks depth in terms of source quality and transparency. The article could benefit from including diverse perspectives and addressing potential controversies or downsides associated with the phase-out of GPT-4.5. Overall, it serves as an informative piece but falls short in providing a comprehensive analysis of the broader implications of these technological changes.

Accuracy

The article accurately reports that OpenAI is phasing out GPT-4.5 in favor of GPT-4.1, reflecting the company's strategic shift in AI model offerings. It correctly notes that GPT-4.1 is available exclusively through OpenAI's API and highlights its efficiency and cost-effectiveness, claiming a 26% reduction in costs for median queries. However, the article's assertion that GPT-4.1 offers better performance than GPT-4.5 needs more evidence, as it lacks specific benchmark comparisons. Additionally, the claim about GPT-4.1's support for 'up to one million tokens of context' and its knowledge up to June 2024 should be verified through OpenAI's official documentation.

Balance

The article primarily focuses on the technical and economic advantages of GPT-4.1 over GPT-4.5, presenting a largely positive view of OpenAI's decision. While it mentions the phase-out of GPT-4.5, it does not explore potential downsides or criticisms of this move, such as user concerns or the impact on current projects using GPT-4.5. The article could benefit from including perspectives from developers or industry experts who might have differing opinions on the transition to GPT-4.1.

Clarity

The article is well-structured and uses clear, straightforward language to convey complex technical information. It effectively explains the differences between GPT-4.5 and GPT-4.1, making it accessible to readers with varying levels of familiarity with AI technology. However, the use of technical jargon such as 'tokens of context' could be further clarified for a general audience to ensure comprehensive understanding.

Source quality

The article does not cite any external sources or provide direct quotes from OpenAI representatives, which limits its credibility. It relies on general statements attributed to OpenAI without offering specific sources or documentation to substantiate these claims. Including references to official OpenAI announcements or statements from company officials would enhance the article's reliability and authority.

Transparency

The article lacks transparency in terms of its sources and methodology. It does not disclose the basis for its claims about GPT-4.1's performance and cost efficiency, nor does it explain how these figures were obtained. Providing more context about the data sources and any potential conflicts of interest would improve the article's transparency and help readers assess the impartiality of the information presented.