As much as we hate it, there’s no denying that generative AI is having an impact on the creative industries. OpenAI’s ChatGPT bot, including its image generator DALL-E, was a major contributor to that. Now, less than three years after its initial release, another upgrade is available.
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GPT-5 introduces a more customizable interface, allowing users to choose colors and even the bot’s personality (presets include “Cynic,” “Female,” and “Listener”).
There’s a new “Advanced Voice” system that should adapt to tone, and OpenAI believes the model itself provides better reasoning, greater accuracy, and security. But what does this change mean for creative people?
While some users report seeing improvements in image generation, OpenAI doesn’t indicate that it changed the image generator with this update, so it’s likely still running GPT-4. However, GPT-5 is said to have improved visual perception, which could mean better understanding of reference images.
The main changes apply to creative people who use GPT as an assistant for generating ideas, finding solutions to problems, or creating prototypes for user interface and web design. The main change is “thinking built in”.
This can help you check the logic of the responses and perhaps learn something interesting. It can also help spark alternative ideas, for example if you are asking for GPT ideas for a creative campaign or how to approach a specific audience.
Why this matters for artists and creatives
- Most design processes are a dance between inspiration and constraints.
- A mood board here, a style guide there, and somewhere in between you’re trying to get it to sing.
- Reality? Designers spend more time collecting and cross-referencing brand assets than they do actual design.
- GPT-5 turns that on its head. Now you can give it your entire brand visual language.
Color Tokens
- Blurple – #5865F2 – Confident, expressive, and instantly recognizable as Discord.
- Green – #57F287 – Fresh, friendly, and full of energy.
- Yellow – #FEE75C – Warm and playful, great for emphasis.
- Fuchsia – #EB459E – Bold and creative, perfect for standout moments.
- Red – #ED4245 – Urgency, alerts, and high-contrast actions.
- White – #FFFFFF – Crisp, clean, and high-contrast.
- Black – #23272A – Dark mode base, sleek and easy on the eyes.
Voice Pillars
- Playful – Adds delight to small moments while staying clear and on point.
- Original – Celebrates unique perspectives and unexpected creativity.
- Relatable – Makes everyone feel understood and part of the community.
- Reliable – Dependable, honest, and consistent in tone and delivery.
What designers should do next
- Experiment with full brand packs – Feed GPT-5 an entire style guide PDF or brand site.
- Ask for cross-format outputs – Get social scripts, web layouts, and merch ideas in one go.
- Iterate, don’t automate – Treat GPT-5 as a collaborator, not a replacement.
- Double check the output – GPT-5 still gets confused and hallucinates.
OpenAI says the new model can “create beautiful and responsive websites, apps, and games with an aesthetic sensibility in just one prompt, intuitively and tastefully turning ideas into reality.”
Early testers, like Pietro Schirano of “Magic Path AI” (in the video below), have noticed that the results show a better understanding of things like spacing, typography, and white space.
GPT-5 is now available on the ChatGPT platform for users, including free tier users. There is a usage limit after which users will have to use GPT-5 Mini. There are three versions for developers: GPT-5, GPT-5 Mini, and GPT-5 Nano, with different speeds and pricing.
