Earlier this year, reports indicated that Microsoft engineers were enhancing server capacity in anticipation of OpenAI’s upcoming GPT-5 model, expected to debut around late May. After undergoing various tests and encountering some delays, sources close to OpenAI’s operations now predict that GPT-5 could launch as soon as next month.
OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, recently shared on X that a release for GPT-5 is imminent, even offering a glimpse at its capabilities during a podcast with Theo Von. Altman recounted an experience where he posed a question to the model, noting that, “I put it in the model, this is GPT-5, and it answered it perfectly.” He expressed feeling a bit useless in comparison to the AI’s speed in answering correctly.
Prior to Altman’s comments, indications of GPT-5 were found online, stoking speculation about its forthcoming release. It is anticipated that OpenAI will unveil GPT-5 in early August, featuring mini and nano versions that will be accessible via its API.
I reached out to OpenAI to confirm the August launch date for GPT-5, but the organization did not respond before publication.
Earlier this year, Altman characterized GPT-5 as “a system that integrates a lot of our technology,” emphasizing how it will encompass o3 reasoning capabilities instead of releasing them as a standalone model. This approach aligns with OpenAI’s goal of streamlining its language models in pursuit of what could eventually be classified as artificial general intelligence, or AGI.
For OpenAI, declaring AGI is significant as it would compel Microsoft to give up its revenue rights from OpenAI and its future AI developments. The two companies have been negotiating their partnership, with OpenAI currently needing Microsoft’s consent to transition part of its operation into a profit-driven entity. It appears that GPT-5 may not reach the AGI level necessary to trigger the terms linked to OpenAI’s financial success, with Altman previously noting the model won’t achieve a “gold level of capability” for several months following its launch.
Integrating the o-series and GPT-series models will simplify the process of selecting the appropriate model for various tasks in ChatGPT. Reports suggest that the main combined reasoning version of GPT-5 will be available via both ChatGPT and OpenAI’s API, while its mini version will be accessible on the same platforms. The nano version, meanwhile, is expected to be exclusive to the API.
While GPT-5 is projected to launch in early August, OpenAI’s release schedule is often subject to change due to development hurdles, server capacity complications, or announcements and leaks from competing AI models. Earlier in the month, I raised concerns about potential delays for an open language model that OpenAI aims to release, and Altman confirmed this concern shortly thereafter, stating they needed extra time for safety assessments and reviews for high-risk areas.
Nonetheless, insiders affirm that the launch of this open language model is on the near horizon, with OpenAI pushing to have it ready before the end of July, just ahead of GPT-5’s debut. This model is described as “similar to o3 mini” and equipped with reasoning capabilities. It marks the first time OpenAI has made an open-weight model available since GPT-2 in 2019, and it is slated for access via Azure, Hugging Face, and other major cloud providers.
Microsoft Under Fire for Security Practices
Last year, Microsoft pledged to prioritize security in light of several serious issues and criticism spurred by a report from the US Cyber Safety Review Board. Since then, the company has actively pursued improvements to its previously criticized security culture. However, recent events have highlighted ongoing challenges.
A significant security vulnerability in Microsoft’s on-premises versions of SharePoint allowed hacking groups to exploit a zero-day flaw, leading to breaches in over 50 organizations, including the US nuclear weapons agency. Security researchers detected the exploit on July 18, with Microsoft sending out an alert the following day. Engineers proceeded to work through the weekend and managed to issue patches for SharePoint Subscription Edition and SharePoint 2019 by July 20. A fix for SharePoint 2016 was made available on July 22.
This security flaw was a result of a combination of two bugs demonstrated at the Pwn2Own hacking contest in May. Microsoft has attributed the attacks to two hacking groups linked to the Chinese government, although the company has not revealed how the hackers ultimately bypassed its patches to create a zero-day exploit.
The vulnerability was limited to on-premises SharePoint versions, leaving the Microsoft 365 version unaffected. While this limited the potential damage, the precision of the attacks raises serious concerns for Microsoft and its clients. It is likely to hasten the migration away from older SharePoint versions, which will remain in extended support until July 2026.
A recent ProPublica report has further complicated Microsoft’s security narrative, revealing a little-known program that risks exposing the US Defense Department to cyber threats from China. Microsoft has utilized engineers based in China for the maintenance of the Department’s computer systems, with digital escorts that reportedly lack the necessary expertise to supervise foreign engineers correctly. This update comes amidst growing concerns about China’s persistent threat to US government and infrastructure networks, as highlighted by the Director of National Intelligence.
On the same day the SharePoint vulnerability was discovered, Microsoft’s communications lead, Frank Shaw, addressed the ProPublica report, announcing new measures to ensure that no China-based engineering teams will be assisting in technical work for the Department of Defense’s cloud services and related platforms.
Sources indicate that Microsoft has now restricted its escort program to US-based employees working in its government cloud data centers in Fairfax, Virginia. Notification of this change was communicated to Microsoft’s entire threat protection team on July 23, with an emphasis that there will be “no exceptions” to this new policy.
The existence of such a program has raised numerous questions for Microsoft, particularly regarding the rationale behind employing China-based engineers for US Defense Department systems. Senator Tom Cotton has already called for an inquiry into Microsoft’s practices, suggesting that the company may soon encounter increased scrutiny regarding its security protocols this summer.
The Pad:
- Windows 11 Performance Improvement. Microsoft is gathering feedback regarding slow or sluggish responses in Windows 11. Insiders can submit performance logs to assist in identifying issues, as the company prepares for the 25H2 update later this year.
- Closure of Movies & TV Store. Microsoft has quietly shut down the Movies and TV store on Xbox and Windows, leaving users unable to purchase new content. Existing purchases remain accessible, but this move may affect loyal customers who had invested in the platform.
- Delays in Nvidia and MediaTek Arm CPUs. Reports indicate that delays are impacting the rollout of Arm-based CPUs from Nvidia and MediaTek due to complications within Microsoft’s OS roadmap and a decrease in demand.
- Pricing Changes for Xbox Games. Microsoft will no longer offer $79.99 games during the holiday season after feedback against the pricing model. The Outer Worlds 2 will revert back to a $69.99 price point.
- GitHub Introduces AI App Tool. GitHub has launched a public preview of GitHub Spark, allowing developers to create apps by simply describing their ideas, leveraging AI capabilities.
- Maingear’s Retro95 Launches. The Retro95 from Maingear combines retro PC design with modern specs, offering various configurations for nostalgic users.
- New Surface Laptop 5G Version. Microsoft will release a new Surface Laptop 5G model, featuring Intel’s latest processors and expected to be available from August 26.
- Cross-Platform Xbox Cloud Gaming. Microsoft is testing a new feature that allows users to track play history across devices, including Xbox, PC, and handhelds.
- AI Features in Windows 11 Update. A new Windows 11 update is rolling out, introducing various AI enhancements, including the integration of Copilot features.
- WhatsApp to Ditch Windows App. WhatsApp is transitioning to a web-based version instead of maintaining its native Windows app, disappointing many users.
- Remotely Lock Windows 11 from Android. Users can now remotely lock their Windows 11 PCs from Android phones through an update to the Phone Link tool.
- New Members in Microsoft AI Team. Microsoft has welcomed new talent from Google’s DeepMind to its AI division, strengthening its capabilities in the field.
- Windows 11 to Get Shared Audio Feature. Upcoming features in Windows 11 include the ability to play audio through multiple output devices.
Feedback is welcomed from readers, so please feel encouraged to leave a comment or reach out via email for discussions on various topics. Should you have details about Microsoft’s internal projects, feel free to get in touch for a confidential conversation.
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