GPT-5.5: A Rigorous Test Reveals Its Strengths and Weaknesses

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Key Takeaways

1OpenAI has launched GPT-5.5, surpassing GPT-5.4 in speed and accuracy, with notable improvements in coding and conceptual clarity.

2In a 10-step test, GPT-5.5 scored 93/100, losing points for excessive enthusiasm.

3GPT-5.5 excelled in academic explanation and emotional support, but failed to follow some specific instructions.

💡Why it matters — The performance of GPT-5.5 illustrates the rapid advancements and persistent challenges in the development of conversational AIs.

OpenAI recently introduced GPT-5.5, an enhanced version of its previous language model, GPT-5.4. This new model stands out for its improved performance in terms of speed and accuracy. Notable enhancements include agentic coding, conceptual clarity, scientific research capability, and greater accuracy in knowledge tasks. This release closely follows the launch of ChatGPT Images 2.0, which combines artificial intelligence with image generation.

The release cadence of OpenAI's models has significantly accelerated, likely due to the increased efficiency of AI coding, which has reduced development time. This speed in developing new models is a sign of ongoing progress in the field of artificial intelligence.

A 10-Round Test to Evaluate GPT-5.5

To assess the capabilities of GPT-5.5, a 10-round test was designed, covering various areas such as writing, coding, and reasoning. The model achieved an overall score of 93 out of 100, losing points primarily due to excessive enthusiasm that sometimes hindered the accuracy of its responses.

Summary of a News Story

In the first test, GPT-5.5 was tasked with summarizing a news story from Yahoo News. While it captured the essence, it failed to adhere to the instruction to use only that source, costing it five points out of ten.

Explanation of an Academic Concept

The model brilliantly explained educational constructivism to a five-year-old, using simple language and clear examples, earning it the maximum score.

Math Skills

In a math test, GPT-5.5 demonstrated its ability to complete a sequence from the Fibonacci sequence, correctly explaining its reasoning and thus earning full points.

Cultural Discussion

In a discussion about the impact of social media, GPT-5.5 argued that these platforms have overall deteriorated communication, providing compelling reasons and achieving the maximum score.

Literary Analysis

The model was also tested on its understanding of the first book of Game of Thrones, offering a detailed analysis of the main themes and earning ten points.

Creating a Travel Itinerary

When creating a week-long itinerary for Boston, GPT-5.5 lost one point for not including references to costs, although the itinerary was deemed excellent.

Emotional Support

GPT-5.5 provided relevant advice and encouragement for a job interview, demonstrating an ability to offer effective emotional support.

Translation and Cultural Relevance

Finally, in an exercise translating from English to Latin, the model proposed two translations but lost a point for a cultural explanation deemed insufficient.