ChatGPT 5.2 branded a ‘step backwards’ by disappointed early users – here’s why

• OpenAI says ChatGPT 5.2 is "the smartest generally-available model in the world."
• Reddit users claim the new upgrade is "boring" and "too corporate"
• Is ChatGPT 5.2 worse than its predecessor? It's too soon to tell

ChatGPT 5.2 is now available as OpenAI tries to flex its muscles to combat Google's impressive Gemini 3. But some users aren't very happy.

The new AI model of the world's most popular chatbot hasn't even been out 24 hours, and users are flooding social media highlighting their discontent with the update.

A Reddit thread titled, "so, how we feelin about 5.2?" on the ChatGPT subreddit has many of OpenAI's most loyal users discussing the shortcomings of the new model, which Sam Altman says is "the smartest generally-available model in the world."