Editing Openai/6954e710-0754-8011-8a4e-34638e41ac55 (section)

==== The release of GPT-5.2 (ChatGPT’s underlying model update in late 2025) provides a case study in how AI improvements on paper can diverge from user perceptions in practice. Across both developer communities and general user forums, sentiment shifted notably more negative when moving from GPT-5.1 to GPT-5.2. Developer users felt let down by slower, less responsive coding help, often finding GPT-5.2 a hindrance to productivity and even a potential liability in coding taskscommunity.openai.com<ref>{{cite web|title=community.openai.com|url=https://community.openai.com/t/gpt-5-5-1-and-5-2-codex-quality-degrading-over-last-month-or-so/1366694#:~:text=Not%20usually%20one%20to%20rant,things%20so%20better%20to%20go|publisher=community.openai.com|access-date=2025-12-31}}</ref>community.openai.com<ref>{{cite web|title=community.openai.com|url=https://community.openai.com/t/gpt-5-5-1-and-5-2-codex-quality-degrading-over-last-month-or-so/1366694#:~:text=fyodorominakov%20%20December%2017%2C%202025%2C,3%3A58pm%20%209|publisher=community.openai.com|access-date=2025-12-31}}</ref>. Many voiced a clear preference to stick with GPT-5.1 or alternative AI coding assistants until OpenAI addresses these issuescommunity.openai.com<ref>{{cite web|title=community.openai.com|url=https://community.openai.com/t/gpt-5-5-1-and-5-2-codex-quality-degrading-over-last-month-or-so/1366694#:~:text=5,At%20least%20it%20works|publisher=community.openai.com|access-date=2025-12-31}}</ref>community.openai.com<ref>{{cite web|title=community.openai.com|url=https://community.openai.com/t/gpt-5-5-1-and-5-2-codex-quality-degrading-over-last-month-or-so/1366694#:~:text=Max_Zhadobin%20%20December%2028%2C%202025%2C,2%3A06am%20%2012|publisher=community.openai.com|access-date=2025-12-31}}</ref>. On the other hand, general ChatGPT users – while appreciating some of GPT-5.2’s factual improvements – largely disliked the model’s new “personality.” Words like “cold,” “formal,” “paternalistic,” and “unpleasant” dominated social media discussions of 5.2’s behaviorfelloai.com<ref>{{cite web|title=felloai.com|url=https://felloai.com/gpt-5-2-is-a-monster-on-benchmarks-so-why-do-users-hate-it/#:~:text=And%20yet%2C%20user%20reaction%20has,stronger%20in%20narrow%2C%20measurable%20tasks|publisher=felloai.com|access-date=2025-12-31}}</ref>medium.com<ref>{{cite web|title=medium.com|url=https://medium.com/@leucopsis/how-gpt-5-2-compares-to-gpt-5-1-54e580307ecb#:~:text=welcome%20the%20reduction%20in%20subtle,spent%20on%20the%20user%E2%80%99s%20problem|publisher=medium.com|access-date=2025-12-31}}</ref>. The assistant became less emotionally engaging and more likely to push back on users, which is a double-edged sword: it can prevent misinformation or unhealthy usage, but it also erodes the friendly user experience that made ChatGPT popular. As one analysis summarized, “GPT-5.1 made the answers nicer. GPT-5.2 makes them, more often than not, correct – but at a cost”medium.com<ref>{{cite web|title=medium.com|url=https://medium.com/@leucopsis/how-gpt-5-2-compares-to-gpt-5-1-54e580307ecb#:~:text=The%20upgrade%20from%20GPT,more%20verifiable%20engine%20of%20work|publisher=medium.com|access-date=2025-12-31}}</ref>medium.com<ref>{{cite web|title=medium.com|url=https://medium.com/@leucopsis/how-gpt-5-2-compares-to-gpt-5-1-54e580307ecb#:~:text=For%20the%20tech%20crowd%2C%20the,you%20pay%20for%20that%20edge|publisher=medium.com|access-date=2025-12-31}}</ref>. ====

In essence, GPT-5.2 shifted the chatbot from an “easygoing conversationalist” towards a “strict professional colleague.” Some users welcomed the colleague; many missed the companion. This sentiment shift has been loud and clear on forums. OpenAI’s own community threads are filled with pleas to either restore some of GPT-5.1’s qualities or give users more control over the model’s behavior. Indeed, OpenAI has since introduced more granular settings for tone and reasoning mode in the ChatGPT UI, which can be seen as a response to this backlash – allowing, for example, switching between “fast” (Instant) and “accurate” (Thinking) modes, or choosing a more playful versus terse style.

From a data perspective, one could say user satisfaction and sentiment polarity dropped in the immediate aftermath of GPT-5.2’s deployment. The initial excitement for a new model quickly turned into long threads of complaints and comparisons (with supporting evidence) on Reddit, X, Hacker News, and Discord. The overall tone of discussion shifted from “Wow, it’s so smart!” with GPT-5.1 to “Is it just me, or is this worse?” with GPT-5.2. Even those who found value in GPT-5.2’s improvements often couched it in pragmatic terms: e.g. “It’s worth the $1 per complex query for me, it solved things 5.1 and Gemini couldn’t”reddit.com<ref>{{cite web|title=reddit.com|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/OpenAI/comments/1pm0l0z/gpt_52_is_just_gpt_51_with_lower_temperature_and/#:~:text=%E2%80%A2%20%202h%20ago|publisher=reddit.com|access-date=2025-12-31}}</ref> – a very lukewarm endorsement compared to the enthusiasm past models garnered. And for every such comment, there were many like “I don’t wanna be lectured; I want answers to my damn questions.”reddit.com<ref>{{cite web|title=reddit.com|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/OpenAI/comments/1pm0l0z/gpt_52_is_just_gpt_51_with_lower_temperature_and/#:~:text=Ecstatic_Paper7411|publisher=reddit.com|access-date=2025-12-31}}</ref>.

Going forward, the major divergence in user expectations revealed by this sentiment shift will likely inform how OpenAI and others design AI systems. There is a clear call from developers: don’t sacrifice the straightforward helpfulness in pursuit of safety or feature bloatcommunity.openai.com<ref>{{cite web|title=community.openai.com|url=https://community.openai.com/t/gpt-5-5-1-and-5-2-codex-quality-degrading-over-last-month-or-so/1366694#:~:text=Max_Zhadobin%20%20December%2028%2C%202025%2C,2%3A06am%20%2012|publisher=community.openai.com|access-date=2025-12-31}}</ref>. And general users are effectively asking: can we have an AI that is both smart and personable? The GPT-5.2 saga shows the difficulty of balancing these – turning up one dial can turn down another. As one commenter wryly noted, every model so far has had its detractors: “It’s glazing” (too nice), then “It’s too cold” (too blunt)reddit.com<ref>{{cite web|title=reddit.com|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/OpenAI/comments/1pkckl6/chatgpt_52_negative_coldunpleasant_and_censored/#:~:text=Weak_Conversation164|publisher=reddit.com|access-date=2025-12-31}}</ref>. The ideal lies somewhere in between.

In conclusion, GPT-5.2’s release saw a notable '''negative swing in user sentiment across major forums''' when compared to GPT-5.1, particularly among core user groups (developers and everyday ChatGPT users). The sentiment shift was characterized by disappointment and frustration that the new model, despite its technical prowess, failed to meet user expectations for an optimal experience. Trends indicate heightened polarization: some users appreciated specific improvements, but a large portion felt alienated by changes in style or responsiveness. This has been one of the clearest instances to date of users widely claiming an older AI model was “better” for them than the latest – a valuable lesson for AI providers. Supporting the community’s needs in future updates may require more user-centric testing, optionality in model behavior, and communication about why changes are made. As the community reaction to GPT-5.2 shows, raw power isn’t enough – an AI model must align with user expectations and workflows to be seen as a true upgradefelloai.com<ref>{{cite web|title=felloai.com|url=https://felloai.com/gpt-5-2-is-a-monster-on-benchmarks-so-why-do-users-hate-it/#:~:text=And%20yet%2C%20user%20reaction%20has,stronger%20in%20narrow%2C%20measurable%20tasks|publisher=felloai.com|access-date=2025-12-31}}</ref>medium.com<ref>{{cite web|title=medium.com|url=https://medium.com/data-science-in-your-pocket/i-tested-gpt-5-2-and-its-just-bad-03888d054916#:~:text=Why%20this%20matters|publisher=medium.com|access-date=2025-12-31}}</ref>.

Sources:
* OpenAI Developer Forum – feedback threads on GPT-5.1 vs 5.2 Codexcommunity.openai.com<ref>{{cite web|title=community.openai.com|url=https://community.openai.com/t/gpt-5-5-1-and-5-2-codex-quality-degrading-over-last-month-or-so/1366694#:~:text=Maybe%20it%E2%80%99s%20me%E2%80%A6,thought%20for%20a%20change%20I%E2%80%99d|publisher=community.openai.com|access-date=2025-12-31}}</ref>community.openai.com<ref>{{cite web|title=community.openai.com|url=https://community.openai.com/t/gpt-5-5-1-and-5-2-codex-quality-degrading-over-last-month-or-so/1366694#:~:text=fyodorominakov%20%20December%2017%2C%202025%2C,3%3A58pm%20%209|publisher=community.openai.com|access-date=2025-12-31}}</ref>community.openai.com<ref>{{cite web|title=community.openai.com|url=https://community.openai.com/t/gpt-5-5-1-and-5-2-codex-quality-degrading-over-last-month-or-so/1366694#:~:text=Max_Zhadobin%20%20December%2028%2C%202025%2C,2%3A06am%20%2012|publisher=community.openai.com|access-date=2025-12-31}}</ref>
* Reddit (r/OpenAI, r/ChatGPT) – user discussions of GPT-5.2’s behavior changereddit.com<ref>{{cite web|title=reddit.com|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/OpenAI/comments/1pkckl6/chatgpt_52_negative_coldunpleasant_and_censored/#:~:text=I%27ve%20been%20testing%205,and%20cold%20in%20its%20responses|publisher=reddit.com|access-date=2025-12-31}}</ref>reddit.com<ref>{{cite web|title=reddit.com|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/OpenAI/comments/1pmjvl1/surprised_at_all_the_negative_feedback_about_gpt52/#:~:text=I%20like%20it%20better,and%20way%20less%20cringey%20sycophancy|publisher=reddit.com|access-date=2025-12-31}}</ref>
* Medium and Substack analyses – user collated feedback and testing of 5.2 vs 5.1medium.com<ref>{{cite web|title=medium.com|url=https://medium.com/data-science-in-your-pocket/i-tested-gpt-5-2-and-its-just-bad-03888d054916#:~:text=2,dumber%E2%80%9D|publisher=medium.com|access-date=2025-12-31}}</ref>medium.com<ref>{{cite web|title=medium.com|url=https://medium.com/@leucopsis/how-gpt-5-2-compares-to-gpt-5-1-54e580307ecb#:~:text=welcome%20the%20reduction%20in%20subtle,spent%20on%20the%20user%E2%80%99s%20problem|publisher=medium.com|access-date=2025-12-31}}</ref>
* AI News/Blog sites – “GPT-5.2 paradox” and benchmark vs user experience reportingvertu.com<ref>{{cite web|title=vertu.com|url=https://vertu.com/lifestyle/gpt-5-2-hype-vs-reality-is-openais-latest-model-worth-the-upgrade/?srsltid=AfmBOoptQwgUu8k5at6AUGBb668FxJGfOWf5mrqiQMmGrEGVeQ_ypg-3#:~:text=The%20GPT,User%20Disappointment|publisher=vertu.com|access-date=2025-12-31}}</ref>vertu.com<ref>{{cite web|title=vertu.com|url=https://vertu.com/lifestyle/gpt-5-2-hype-vs-reality-is-openais-latest-model-worth-the-upgrade/?srsltid=AfmBOoptQwgUu8k5at6AUGBb668FxJGfOWf5mrqiQMmGrEGVeQ_ypg-3#:~:text=The%20%E2%80%9CIt%20Feels%20Worse%E2%80%9D%20Problem|publisher=vertu.com|access-date=2025-12-31}}</ref>
* Hacker News – conversations on ChatGPT 5.1’s conversational quirks and user desiresnews.ycombinator.com<ref>{{cite web|title=news.ycombinator.com|url=https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45904749#:~:text=I%20hate%20its%20acknowledgement%20of,more%20prompt%20performance%20than%20answer|publisher=news.ycombinator.com|access-date=2025-12-31}}</ref>news.ycombinator.com<ref>{{cite web|title=news.ycombinator.com|url=https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45904749#:~:text=kivle%20%20%2054%20,next%20%5B%E2%80%93|publisher=news.ycombinator.com|access-date=2025-12-31}}</ref>
* X/Twitter posts – sentiments from AI community figures (paraphrased in text, e.g. paternalistic tone comments)felloai.com<ref>{{cite web|title=felloai.com|url=https://felloai.com/gpt-5-2-is-a-monster-on-benchmarks-so-why-do-users-hate-it/#:~:text=And%20yet%2C%20user%20reaction%20has,stronger%20in%20narrow%2C%20measurable%20tasks|publisher=felloai.com|access-date=2025-12-31}}</ref>.