Core Insights - Users who paid for GPT-5 seem to be disappointed with the lack of significant improvements compared to previous versions [2] - Free users, however, may have a different experience, as ChatGPT has over 700 million free users and ranks as the 5th most visited website globally, surpassing platforms like X and Reddit [3] - SemiAnalysis suggests that the Router mechanism in GPT-5 allows OpenAI to extract commercial value from a large base of free users [4] Group 1: Router Mechanism - The Router is a core feature of GPT-5, enabling it to function as a unified system that includes a general model, a deep reasoning model, and a real-time Router [6] - This Router can direct user requests to the appropriate model based on the complexity and intent of the query, thus optimizing both cost and performance [7] - The introduction of the Router has led to a sevenfold increase in free users accessing the "thinking" model on the first day of its launch, with paid users increasing by nearly 3.5 times [7] Group 2: Monetization Strategies - OpenAI is beginning to seriously consider monetizing free users, with a focus on controlling user experience to open up more revenue streams [12] - Sam Altman's perspective on advertising has shifted, indicating a willingness to explore monetization through potential revenue-sharing models [14][16] - The Router's ability to understand user intent could facilitate a transition to a consumer-focused super-app, allowing for transaction-based revenue generation [16][30] Group 3: Agentic Purchasing Model - The concept of Agentic purchasing contrasts with traditional search queries, as LLMs can dynamically allocate resources based on the commercial value of queries [18][22] - The Router allows for differentiation between low-value and high-value queries, enabling more efficient resource allocation and potentially higher-quality responses [22][25] - This model could evolve into a super-app that facilitates everyday consumer decisions, with revenue generated through transaction fees rather than subscription costs [26][30] Group 4: Competitive Landscape - OpenAI's Router is poised to challenge Google's ad-centric business model, as it leverages a large user base to create a new monetization pathway [37][41] - Smaller companies are already benefiting from AI recommendations, with significant traffic driven by ChatGPT, indicating a shift in consumer behavior away from traditional search engines [42] - The emergence of AI-driven purchasing could disrupt established players like Google and Amazon, as OpenAI positions itself as a formidable competitor in the consumer space [47][48]

To many power users (Pro and Pus), GPT5 was a disappointing reease. But with coser inspection, the rea reease is focused on the vast majority of ChatGPT's users, which is the 700m+ free userbase that is growing rapidy. Power users shoud be disappointed; this reease wasn't for them. The rea consumer opportunity for OpenA ies with the argest user base, and getting the unmonetized users who currenty use ChatGPT August 1, 2025 GPT5 Set the Stage for Ad Monetization and the SuperApp //How ChatGPT wi monetize fre ...