Sam Altman, for instance, has backed away from his earlier suggestions that GPT-5 would represent a meaningful step toward A.G.I., and now dismisses A.G.I. as an unrealistic near-term target....
From AI Supremecy, August 12:
After such a long wait, we get one of the strangest Model launches in history, and OpenAI is reeling from the fall-out
Hey Everyone,
Welcome to another article from AI Supremacy, a Newsletter about AI at the intersection of tech, business, society and the future. Welcome to join our new community.
This article is intended as an introduction to some of the issues OpenAI with the launch of GPT-5 are facing from many varied voices, including OpenAI’s own PR. How the two contrast is fairly striking in August, 2025.
In the days following the GPT-5 backlash, OpenAI have tried to take steps to improve the ChatGPT experience:
Added three modes for GPT-5: "Auto," "Fast," and "Thinking" to give users more control over how they interact with the model
Improved the model switching system that they claim was routing queries incorrectly
Sam Altman quickly announced that GPT-4o would remain available for Plus users after admitting they "underestimated how much some of the things that people like in GPT-4o matter to them"
Addressed the performance inconsistencies that made GPT-5 appear less capable than previous models
Raised GPT-5 Thinking mode rate limits from 200 weekly messages to 3,000 messages per week
Added overflow capacity shifting to GPT-5 Thinking mini
Personality changes: Altman announced plans to make GPT-5's personality "warmer than the current personality but not as annoying (to most users) as GPT-4o".....
....MUCH MORE, it's a deep dive
The Register, August 13 - "OpenAI's GPT-5 looks less like AI evolution and more like cost cutting"
And Mandy?
Mandy Rice-Davies [was] a former model and showgirl known for her role in the Profumo affair.
When informed by the prosecuting attorney that Lord
Astor disputed her version of events and denied having an affair she
responded:
"Well, he would, wouldn't he?"
We are keepers of the M.R-D flame:
Mandy Rice-Davies Alert: Christina Romer Says Maximum Tax Revenue at 84% Marginal Rate
She would, wouldn't she.*
*For British politicians of a certain age [often referred to as octo or nona-genarians -ed]
the scandal surrounding Secretary of State for War John Profumo's
affair with the alleged mistress of a Russian spy was highlighted by the
testimony of Miss Rice-Davies, a friend of the alleged mistress,
Christine Keeler.
From Wikipedia:
While giving evidence at the trial of Stephen Ward, charged with living off the immoral earnings of Keeler and Rice-Davies, the latter made a famous riposte. When the prosecuting counsel pointed out that Lord Astor denied an affair or having even met her, she replied, "Well, he would, wouldn't he?"We've tried to keep the phrase alive, using it about once per year:
2007
Gore Says Markets are Key in Battle to Combat Climate Change
"Well, he would, wouldn't he?"2007
Mandy Rice Davies*
ICE, Skating on Thin
TESTIMONY OF JEFFREY C. SPRECHER CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, INTERCONTINENTALEXCHANGE, INC.2008
Warning: Mandy Rice-Davies moment ahead.
"...we do not believe that a complete overhaul of the current regulatory structure is either warranted or advisable."
UN Can Regulate Emissions Trading Without Conflict of Interest
All together now: A Mandy Rice-Davies Moment!*2009
Major Problems at California's Public Pension Fund, CalPERS And: A Mandy Rice-Davies Moment!
One of these days I'll have to tell the story of how CalPERS got to this point. It is an ugly tale. For now we'll just post the slow motion train wreck.One of my favorite usages:
On a positive note: Mandy Rice-Davies* moment ahead!
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: My Lords, I am proud of many things that this Government have done. I pause to anticipate the interjection—"He would say that, wouldn't he?"...
Lords Hansard text for 6 Feb 2002
