Introduction
OpenAI has officially introduced GPT-5.2, positioning it as their most advanced series for professional activities and long-duration agentic processes. This release is not merely an incremental update but a significant leap in reasoning capabilities over long contexts and tool usage. According to released data, the model is designed to drive economic value: Enterprise users are already reporting savings of 40-60 minutes per day, with power users saving over 10 hours per week.
For the full announcement, you can visit the official OpenAI press release.
The Quality Leap: GPT-5.2 Thinking and Pro
The new lineup is primarily divided into three variants to cover different needs: Instant (fast and conversational), Thinking (deep reasoning), and Pro (maximum possible quality). The main focus is on handling tasks that require specialist skills.
The most impressive metric comes from the GDPval benchmark, which measures performance across 44 economically relevant professions. Key results include:
- GPT-5.2 Thinking: Beats or ties human professionals in 70.9% of cases.
- Efficiency: Performs tasks 11 times faster than experts, at less than 1% of the cost.
- Reliability: Hallucination rates have dropped drastically, with 38% fewer errors compared to its predecessor, GPT-5.1.
Technical Performance and Coding
For developers and software engineers, GPT-5.2 sets a new standard. In the SWE-bench Pro benchmark, which simulates real-world, multi-language software engineering scenarios, the "Thinking" model reached 55.6%, outpacing previous versions. In the "Verified" version, the score climbs to 80%.
"GPT-5.2 made a complete architecture change possible for us. We consolidated a brittle multi-agent system into a single mega-agent with 20+ tools. The best part is it just works."
AJ Orbach, CEO / Triple Whale
Vision and Long Context
One of the historic challenges of LLMs is managing large amounts of data without "forgetting" pieces. GPT-5.2 Thinking excels in the OpenAI MRCRv2 benchmark, maintaining near 100% accuracy in information retrieval (needle in a haystack) up to 256,000 tokens. This makes it ideal for analyzing legal contracts, entire codebases, or scientific research archives.
Computer vision has also improved: the model better interprets graphical interfaces and screenshots (86.3% on ScreenSpot-Pro), facilitating the automation of GUI-based processes.
Availability and Pricing
The models are rolling out gradually on ChatGPT for Plus, Team, and Enterprise users. For developers via API, pricing reflects the increase in power:
- GPT-5.2: $1.75 per 1M input tokens / $14.00 per 1M output tokens.
- GPT-5.2 Pro: $21.00 per 1M input tokens / $168.00 per 1M output tokens (intended for high-value use cases).
Although the cost per token is higher than GPT-5.1, OpenAI argues that the efficiency in completing complex tasks on the first try reduces the total operation cost.
FAQ
What are the main differences between GPT-5.2 Instant, Thinking, and Pro?
Instant is optimized for speed and daily use. Thinking is designed for complex reasoning, coding, and data analysis. Pro offers the highest possible quality for extremely difficult scientific or technical problems, justifying longer wait times and higher costs.
How much does it cost to use the GPT-5.2 API?
The base price for GPT-5.2 is $1.75 per million input tokens and $14 per million output tokens. The Pro version is significantly more expensive ($21/$168), while 90% discounts are available for cached tokens (Context Caching).
Is GPT-5.2 better at coding than previous models?
Yes, GPT-5.2 Thinking achieves 55.6% on SWE-bench Pro and 80% on SWE-bench Verified. It is particularly effective at debugging, refactoring large codebases, and front-end development, handling 3D elements and complex interfaces better.
Is the new model safer and more reliable?
OpenAI has reduced hallucinations by 38% compared to GPT-5.1. Additionally, improved safety filters for mental health and self-harm have been implemented, making the model safer for human interaction, especially in sensitive contexts.
Can GPT-5.2 replace human experts?
According to the GDPval benchmark, GPT-5.2 Thinking matches or outperforms human experts in 70.9% of tasks across 44 professions. However, OpenAI emphasizes that the model is designed to work under human supervision to boost productivity, not to totally replace professional judgment.