The world witnessed a new storm in the AI world in 2022 with the introduction of ChatGPT 3.5, powered by OpenAI. It made history by surpassing 1 million users in just 5 days, becoming the fastest-growing customer app ever. We’ll get to know about ChatGPT 3.5 vs 4 vs 4o their clear differences between each other.
OpenAI doesn’t stop here. After this massive success, OpenAI released new versions of ChatGPT i.e., ChatGPT 4 and ChatGPT 4o. These advancements have made it challenging to choose the right version of the platform. Therefore, we’ve created this comparative guide to help you decide between ChatGPT 3.5 vs 4 vs 4o.
If you are curious to learn which version is best for you, read this article till the end. Here, you will get an in-depth comparison of each version of the ChatGPT.
ChatGPT – Overview
ChatGPT was developed using GPT, a Generative Pre-trained Transformer language model. It uses a deep learning architecture called Transformers that lets the AI model process and generate text.
The model predicts the next word based on the previous context. As a result, ChatGPT can engage in coherent, relevant conversations with users, making it a powerful tool for understanding and generating natural language.
Furthermore, ChatGPT can also be customised to fit specific use cases, which makes it a valuable tool for individuals and businesses seeking to automate their workflow. You can read more about comparing chatgpt with other leading Conversational AI like bard and copilot here .
Key differences between ChatGPT 3.5 vs 4 vs 4o
As you understand, here is the overview of ChatGPT from the previous section. So, it’s time to explore the key differences between all three versions of ChatGPT. We have outlined the top key differences between ChatGPT 3.5 vs 4 vs 4o below:
- Model capabilities
When it comes to analysing the difference between ChatGPT 3.5, 4 and 4o based on model capabilities, ChatGPT 4 stands out as the clear winner due to its ability to handle more complex tasks and provide more accurate responses with around a trillion parameters.
In comparison, ChatGPT 3.5 has 175 billion parameters, limiting its ability to understand and retain complex or extensive information. Meanwhile, ChatGPT 4o takes things a step further by integrating vision, text and audio into a single model.
- Training dataset
Each AI model has been exposed to training data during the development process. Similarly, each version of ChatGPT has been exposed to a wide range of training data. This data directly impacts the capabilities and performance of an AI model.
As we mentioned above, ChatGPT 3.5 has been trained on over 175 billion parameters. ChatGPT 4 took one step ahead because they have been trained on 1 trillion parameters. However, OpenAI hasn’t confirmed the training parameters used to train ChatGPT-4o.
Still, the CTO of OpenAI mentioned that GPT 4o brings GPT-4 level intelligence to everything. Based on OpenAI’s statement, CNET implies that GPT-4o might have 1.8 billion parameters. Similarly, the Times of India estimated that ChatGPT has more than 200 billion parameters.
This means that ChatGPT 4 and 4o use over a trillion parameters to generate responses. This indicates that ChatGPT 4 and ChatGPT- 4o will respond more accurately than CHATGPT 3.5. However, not all versions of this model will reply to sensitive queries like hacking, party politics and more.
- Accuracy
According to OpenAI, ChatGPT-4 is 40 per cent more likely to develop factual responses than GPT-3.5 in their internal evolution. The company reports that it gained this accuracy using user feedback, real-world examples and consultations with security experts.
This upgraded accuracy is good news against the OpenAI controversies like bias, inaccuracy and misinformation in its answers. For example, Mark Walters sued OpenAI, alleging that the AI system had falsely generated a legal complaint accusing him of embezzling funds from a non-profit organisation.
ChatGPT-4o can also tackle more complex queries similar to ChatGPT-4. According to the survey, ChatGPT-4o answered 72.2 per cent correctly. In the same survey. GPT-3.5 was able to answer only 53.8 per cent of queries correctly.
- Problem-solving abilities
Like other factors, ChatGPT 4 and 4o shine when it comes to problem-solving abilities. In contrast, GPT-3.5 struggles with queries that need reasoning, advanced math or logic.
ChatGPT-4 excels in problem-solving because it consistently scores in the 90th percentile on challenging exams. Additionally, it excels at complex tasks that require advanced reasoning and deep thinking.
Similarly, ChatGPT-4o offers accurate responses and interactive guidance to boost users’ problem-solving skills rather than giving direct solutions.
- Response time
Response time may vary depending on the query, but ChatGPT-3.5 provides a faster response with about 73 milliseconds. However, ChatGPT- 4 provides quite a slower response with about 196 milliseconds per token but provides a high-quality and more accurate response. Similarly, ChatGPT-4o took 320 milliseconds to provide a response. It is also capable of real-time reasoning across text, audio and video to ensure high-quality response.
- Contextual understanding
ChatGPT can also understand and maintain context in the conversation if two or more sentences are similar or hold the same meaning. For example, “How is the weather?” is a similar sentence to “It is pretty nice weather out there”.
When you engage in a conversation with this model, it utilises your previous messages to provide you with more coherent and contextually relevant responses. However, each version of this AI model has different techniques and abilities for contextual understanding.
But ChatGPT-4 and 4o beat ChatGPT-3.5 in terms of contextual understanding. This feature is excellent in longer conversations where AI must remember and refer to the last messages. It proves that ChatGPT-4 may engage in more natural and extended conversation than GPT-3.5.
According to the stats, ChatGPT-4 and 4o can maintain context over longer conversations or up to 25000 words, and GPT-3.5 can only maintain conversation over 3000 words. This improved understanding serves as the result of the model’s upgraded training techniques and architecture.
- Multimodal support
Multimodal capabilities are a notable advancement of GPT-4 models over GPT-3.5. In ChatGPT-3.5, you are only allowed to write a query using text to generate an output. With version 4 and 4o, you can even use an image or voice command to make a request. Additionally, you can use text in this version to make a request.
For example, you can upload a picture of your desired veggies or ingredients and request the ChatGPT to suggest a recipe with those ingredients. The model will suggest appropriate recipes based on uploaded images.
Furthermore, you can talk with the ChatGPT, and it will generate a voice note that will communicate with you. On top of that, you can also use video inputs and ask questions about the same video. This feature gives ChatGPT more functionality to handle more tasks, including captioning or translating videos. In addition, it opens up new possibilities for the use of multimedia data for this application. It makes GPT-4 and 4o models far more versatile than the GPT-3.5.
- Bias & safety
Bias and safety are important in developing LLMs. Large datasets can contain biased or unethical content. GPT-4 models address this with advanced filtering and moderation techniques, which makes it 82% less likely to respond to harmful requests than GPT-3.5. Continuous user feedback helps improve the model. While all GPT models work to reduce bias and ensure safety, GPT-4 and GPT -4o are major steps toward a safer AI system.
- User experience
User experience is another crucial factor when comparing ChatGPT 3.5 vs 4 vs 4o. However, the user experience of all versions of ChatGPTs is similar. Still, ChatGPT 4 and 4o are better in terms of user experience because they have some advanced features as compared to 3.5.
While ChatGPT-3.5 offers improved interaction over the previous versions, ChatGPT-4 provides you with a better and more intuitive user experience. Similarly, ChatGPT-4o gives you a further enhanced, smoother and more intuitive experience compared to the previous version of this model.
ChatGPT-4 offers a more human-like and seamless experience with improved context retention and response rate. GPT-4 and GPT-4o enhance these advancements further, but GPT-3.5 remains faster and more cost-effective.
Comparatively Table: ChatGPT 3.5 vs 4 vs 4o
In the previous section, we explored the difference between ChatGPT 3.5 vs 4 vs 4o based on several factors. However, we understand that you may still need more clarity on how these versions compare. Hence, to help you, we have provided the comparison table below for a clearer understanding.
| Features | GPT-3.5 | GPT-4 | GPT-4o |
| Language understanding | Good and can handle a variety of topics. | Enhanced and better at understanding minute details. | More improved and accurate language comprehension |
| Contextual awareness | Basic with some restrictions in a long conversation | More coherent and relevant responses | More refined and maintain context even if you give them complex output |
| Accuracy | Prone to more errors and hallucinations | Increased accuracy with more precise responses | Higher accuracy in responses |
| Performance | It has efficient performance with the ability to manage complex queries | It has more reliable performance with the capability to manage more complex interactions. | It is more efficient and optimized for better performance. |
| Context Retention | Up to 3000 words | Up to 25000 words | Up to 25000 words |
| Multilingual Support | Supports multiple languages | Enhanced multilingual support | Enhanced multilingual support |
| Reasoning Capabilities | Basic problem-solving ability | Enhanced and handles complex tasks | Enhanced and handles complex tasks |
Pricing Comparison: ChatGPT 3.5 vs 4 vs 4o
OpenAI also offers subscriptions to its users to access the premium features of ChatGPT. However, ChatGPT-3.5 is generally free to use. If you wish to use ChatGPT-4, you should buy a subscription. We have put the table below to let you understand the pricing details:
| Model | Pricing | Top Features |
| GPT-3.5 and 4o | Free | – Assistance with writing, – problem-solving and more, – Access to GPT-4 mini, – Use of custom GPT, – Limited access to GPT-4, – Limited access to file upload, image generation, data analysis, and more. |
| GPT-4 and GPT-4o | $20 per month | – Access to Advanced Voice Mode, – Access to GPT-4, – GPT-4o mini, GPT-4o, – Create and use custom GPTs, – Access to OpenAI o1 mini, OpenAI o1 preview, – Early access to new features, file uploads, data analysis, image generation and more. |
In short, you can access GPT-3.5 and have limited access to GPT-4o mini for free. However, you need to buy a plus subscription to this bot for $20 monthly to acquire complete access to GPT-4 and GPT-4o.
Closing Thoughts
This article compares ChatGPT 3.5 vs 4 vs 4o, highlighting the unique strengths of each version. ChatGPT-4o stands out as the most advanced, offering a range of features even for free users. However, you need to purchase a subscription to enjoy its premium or advanced features. As ChatGPT continues to evolve, more powerful versions are expected to be released in future.
For businesses looking to harness AI while prioritising ethical standards, SmatBot is a smart solution. It offers responsible AI practices that balance innovation with privacy, security and user-friendly experiences. SmatBot helps businesses integrate AI efficiently without compromising on ethics.