Speculation runs wild for new GPT model after Altman posts strawberry garden

Sam Altman, the CEO of ChatGPT creator OpenAI, has stirred up speculation on social media about a potential new GPT model after posting a seemingly innocent photo of his garden. 

Eagle-eyed speculators noticed the photo contained four ripe-looking strawberries, with one yet to turn red — which they theorize could be a far-field hint at the widely anticipated GPT 4.5 model.

“4 strawberries... and another half-developed one...this must be a sign of GPT 4.5!” a user by the name of “Mirra” said.

“It’s happening,” AI educator Dogan Ural wrote as others echoed to “stop teasing.”

Others were not so amused by the unusual post. “Why can’t you speak plainly, man,” Altera co-founder Nico Christie added.

On May 14, OpenAI announced its latest AI model, GPT-4o, a chattier, more humanlike AI chatbot, which can interpret a user’s audio and video and respond in real-time.

Anticipation over the next iteration of ChatGPT

Altman didn’t confirm or deny any speculation from his social media post other than confirming the photo was of his “actual garden.” 

Meanwhile, OpenAI is yet to officially comment or announce any ChatGPT 4.5 developments, yet there is speculation online that it may improve speed, accuracy, as well as the ability to handle more complex tasks.

GPT builder Kristi Hines predicted in an April 30 post that “GPT-4.5 Turbo for ChatGPT subscribers arrives in the summer. GPT-4 becomes freely accessible.”

Recent debates over OpenAI longevity

It comes only days after debate over whether OpenAI’s business model is sustainable in the long term.

Technology commentator Edward Zitron ultimately believes “that OpenAI in its current form is untenable,” and for OpenAI to “survive” beyond 2026, it will need to secure more funding than any startup in history and raise it continuously.

“Generative AI is intensely expensive to train and run, and OpenAI is probably gonna have to raise more money this year to stay afloat,” LA Times columnist Brian Merchant echoed.

However, others are not so sure.

“OpenAI has changed the world forever and will NEVER go bankrupt,” Abacus.AI CEO Bindu Reddy argued.