OpenAI has officially launched its o3-pro model, introducing a powerful addition to its premium AI offerings under the ChatGPT Plus and Pro subscriptions. The release follows months of anticipation surrounding the "o3" model architecture, which is believed to represent the most capable version of OpenAI’s current frontier model, sometimes referred to internally as "GPT-4.5" or beyond.

The o3-pro is now the default model for ChatGPT Plus users and offers faster response times, improved contextual understanding, and expanded reasoning capabilities. This rollout marks a notable enhancement in OpenAI’s offerings for both casual users and enterprise clients.

Sam Altman: Open-Weights Model Requires More Time

Despite the significant momentum behind open-source AI in the broader tech community, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman stated that a fully open-weights model is still in development and will not be released just yet. Speaking during a recent developer Q&A, Altman emphasized the importance of ensuring safety, scalability, and usability before making such powerful models publicly accessible.

"We understand the community's excitement for open-weight models," Altman noted. "But it's essential to take the time needed to get this right—not just technically, but also ethically."

Balancing Innovation with Responsibility

Altman’s remarks suggest OpenAI is treading carefully in balancing transparency and accessibility with concerns around AI misuse and intellectual property. While other companies like Meta and Mistral have already released open-source models, OpenAI continues to prioritize controlled access and iterative feedback through its API and ChatGPT platform.

The o3-pro launch underscores OpenAI's strategy of gradual expansion, placing a strong focus on reliability and user experience over unrestricted deployment.

What’s Next for OpenAI?

As of now, OpenAI has not shared a concrete timeline for the release of its open-weight models, but internal sources suggest it remains a goal for 2025. In the meantime, the o3-pro is expected to serve as a flagship offering for researchers, businesses, and developers seeking cutting-edge AI tools.