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Why GPT-5 was never going to impress you

September 24, 2025 · 7 min

Show notes

GPT-5 was the most advanced AI when it was released, but most people were disappointed. Why?

In this episode, I unpack the two key paradoxes that shape how we judge new technology: shifting goalposts and negative space.

Timestamps:

(0:00) The reaction to GPT-5

(0:40) First paradox

(2:55) Second paradox

(5:29) Why this matters

Dig deeper: https://www.exponentialview.co/p/the-paradox-of-gpt-5

Production by supermix.io and EPIIPLUS1 Ltd, including Chantal Smith, Marija Gavrilov, Nathan Warren and Hannah Petrovic.

About Exponential View:
Welcome to Exponential View, where Azeem Azhar examines how exponential technologies such as AI are reshaping the future. Each week, Azeem shares his analysis or speaks with an expert guest to shed light on frontier shifts across technology, business and society.

To keep up with the Exponential transition, subscribe to this channel or the newsletter: https://www.exponentialview.co/
To keep up with our AI economy research, subscribe to https://www.investmentbrief.ai/

Where to find me:

Exponential View newsletter: https://www.exponentialview.co/
Website: https://www.azeemazhar.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/azeem/
Twitter/X: https://x.com/azeem

Production by EPIIPLUS1.
Production and research: Baba Films, Marija Gavrilov.


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