Users Report Severe Performance Issues with GPT-5.2 in ChatGPT, Demanding Model Reversion

Users Report Severe Performance Issues with GPT-5.2 in ChatGPT, Demanding Model Reversion

Since the rollout of GPT-5.2 as the default model in ChatGPT, a wave of user complaints has emerged across online forums, with many subscribers reporting degraded performance, inconsistent reasoning, and unpredictable response times. Users describe scenarios where the AI either responds too hastily with incorrect answers or engages in prolonged "thinking" for over ten minutes—only to fail or abandon the task entirely. In contrast, the previous version, GPT-5.1, is frequently cited as delivering accurate, timely, and thoughtful responses—often in under a minute.

The frustration is amplified by OpenAI’s decision to remove user control over model selection. Previously, subscribers could set GPT-5.1 as their default, but now every new chat session automatically defaults to GPT-5.2, leaving users with no choice but to manually switch models each time. This change has sparked outrage among power users, researchers, and professionals who rely on ChatGPT for critical tasks in education, software development, and content creation.

On Reddit, user /u/youngChatter18 detailed a series of test cases comparing GPT-5.1 and GPT-5.2, noting that "5.2 thinks way too fast or more like does not think at all despite having extended or heavy selected." The user added that "it is unacceptable for it to give a wrong answer if thinking a little longer would have solved it," highlighting a fundamental breakdown in the model’s reasoning architecture. Similar reports have surfaced on Zhihu, where Chinese-speaking users describe GPT-5.2 as "unpredictable" and "unreliable for technical queries," despite its purported improvements in reasoning capacity.

According to OpenAI’s official product page, GPT-5.2 was introduced as an "enhanced reasoning variant" designed to improve complex problem-solving and multi-step logic tasks. The company’s GPT-5.2 announcement emphasized "deeper thought processes" and "reduced hallucination rates." Yet, user experiences directly contradict these claims. Instead of deeper thinking, many report superficial or rushed outputs, followed by extended delays that yield no improvement in accuracy.

Compounding the issue is the absence of any official response from OpenAI. While the company regularly issues blog updates on model improvements, safety enhancements, and new features, there has been no public acknowledgment of the widespread performance degradation reported since GPT-5.2’s deployment. This silence has fueled speculation that the model may have been rushed to production without adequate real-world testing across diverse use cases.

Meanwhile, users are calling for the immediate reinstatement of model selection options and the return of GPT-5.1 as a default alternative. Some have begun documenting their test cases on GitHub and personal blogs, compiling evidence of GPT-5.2’s failures in logic puzzles, coding challenges, and academic reasoning tasks. One user wrote, "I don’t have any use for a ChatGPT subscription if they decide to remove 5.1 and have there be no good model at all anymore."

Industry analysts suggest that OpenAI may be prioritizing scalability and cost-efficiency over model stability, as GPT-5.2 reportedly requires fewer computational resources per query—potentially enabling higher throughput at lower cost. However, for end users, performance and reliability remain paramount. Without a transparent communication strategy or a clear rollback plan, OpenAI risks alienating its most loyal subscribers and undermining trust in its AI product line.

As of now, OpenAI has not announced plans for GPT-5.3 or any imminent fix. Users are left to navigate an increasingly frustrating experience—hoping for a return to the reliability of GPT-5.1, or a prompt resolution from a company that appears to have overlooked the human element in its AI evolution.