OpenAI launched GPT-5.2, its latest artificial intelligence model, as the Microsoft-backed company steps up efforts to stay ahead in the fast-moving generative AI race. The release follows reports that CEO Sam Altman issued an internal “code red” in early December, pausing non-core projects and redirecting teams to accelerate development in response to Alphabet-owned Google’s Gemini 3.
The move highlights how competition among leading AI labs is reshaping internal priorities, with faster iteration cycles and more frequent model upgrades becoming the norm.
What’s New in GPT-5.2
In a statement, OpenAI said GPT-5.2 brings significant improvements in general intelligence, coding capabilities and long-context understanding. The model can process longer documents, follow more detailed instructions and perform multi-step reasoning with higher accuracy.
OpenAI added that GPT-5.2 is expected to unlock greater economic value for users by improving productivity-focused tasks. These include creating spreadsheets, building presentations and managing complex, multi-stage projects, areas where reliability and speed are critical for business users.
Competitive Pressure From Google
The launch comes shortly after Google introduced Gemini 3 in November, positioning it as a market leader across several widely followed AI performance benchmarks. The claims raised expectations of increased competitive pressure on OpenAI.
However, Altman downplayed the immediate impact in an interview with CNBC on Thursday. “Gemini 3 has had less of an impact on our metrics than we feared,” he said, suggesting OpenAI continues to see strong user engagement and demand.
Disney Invests $1 Billion in OpenAI
Adding to the day’s announcements, Disney revealed a $1 billion investment in OpenAI, signaling growing interest from major media companies in generative AI. As part of the deal, Disney will allow OpenAI to use characters from Star Wars, Pixar and Marvel in its Sora AI video generator, expanding creative possibilities for AI-generated video content.
Rollout Plans and Model Support
OpenAI confirmed it has no plans to deprecate GPT-5.1, GPT-5 or GPT-4.1 from its API in the near term, providing continuity for developers. The company said GPT-5.2 Instant, Thinking and Pro versions will begin rolling out on ChatGPT starting Thursday, initially for paid subscribers.
The launch of GPT-5.2 underscores OpenAI’s push to maintain momentum as competition in the generative AI market continues to intensify.
