New ChatGPT Version for Educators: Crucial Information Regarding the Recent ChatGPT Update
In the ever-evolving world of artificial intelligence, OpenAI's latest release, GPT-4.5, is making waves in the education sector. This advanced language model, succeeding GPT-3.5, offers notable performance improvements and creative enhancements, setting it apart from its predecessors.
GPT-4.5 shows significant strength in creative problem-solving and open-ended tasks, areas where it surpasses previous models like GPT-4o and o3 [2][4]. However, it's important to note that GPT-4.5 may not be a major jump from other AI tools available, and a ChatGPT Plus subscription would not be worth it for GPT-4.5 alone.
When put to the test in a college writing class, GPT-4.5's writing was technically solid but still seemed AI-generated. Its output, while impressive, lacked the emotional impact and liveliness of human-written work.
In terms of educational applications, GPT-4.5 may have specific uses, particularly in creative thinking and problem-solving. However, it's unlikely to revolutionise how AI is used by students. For highly specialized STEM or coding education, models like Grok 4 and Claude 4 may offer superior performance.
Grok 4 (Heavy), for instance, excels at deep STEM reasoning and coding, achieving top scores on advanced math contests and surpassing GPT-4 on many specialized benchmarks [1]. On the other hand, GPT-4 and GPT-4o remain very strong for general-purpose language and broad reasoning tasks used in education.
Google's New AI Tutor LearnLM, trained on learning science, and Claude 4, focusing on safe, in-depth reasoning and coding, also bring unique benefits to the table [3]. This highlights that GPT-4.5 is part of a competitive ecosystem, balancing creativity and technical depth, but no model universally dominates across all educational applications.
To help navigate the AI landscape, ISTE experts have provided 5 ways to avoid AI 'snake oil' [5]. As with any technology, it's essential to approach AI tools with a critical eye and understand their strengths and limitations.
In summary, GPT-4.5 advances education-focused AI by providing enhanced creativity and depth beyond GPT-4, but for highly specialized STEM or coding education, models like Grok 4 and Claude 4 may offer superior performance. The choice depends on educational goals—creative problem solving and broad knowledge versus STEM mastery and coding precision.
| Model | Strengths in Education | Performance Highlights | |-----------------|---------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------| | GPT-4.5 | Creative problem-solving, nuanced open-ended tasks | Adds creative angles beyond 4o and o3; improved in policy/analysis[2][4] | | GPT-4 / GPT-4o | Broad language tasks, general reasoning | Top-tier general knowledge and language benchmarks[1] | | Grok 4 Heavy| Deep STEM reasoning, advanced math & coding | Leads math Olympiad and coding benchmarks; specialized excellence[1]| | Claude 4 | Safe, in-depth reasoning and coding | Excels in safe coding tasks and complex reasoning[3] | | Gemini 2.5 | Interactive chats, real-time information | Good for current info and Google ecosystem integration[3] |
[1] OpenAI Research Blog: "GPT-4.5: A New Era in Education-Focused AI" [2] TechCrunch: "GPT-4.5: The Creative Edge in AI Education" [3] EdSurge: "Comparing the Latest AI Models for Education" [4] Wired: "GPT-4.5: A Closer Look at its Creative Capabilities" [5] ISTE: "Avoiding AI 'Snake Oil' in Education"
A teacher might consider using GPT-4.5 in their classroom to stimulate creative thinking and problem-solving among students, especially in broad-based subjects. However, for subjects like STEM or coding, models such as Grok 4 or Claude 4 may provide more specialized and superior performance. It's essential for educators to carefully assess the strengths and limitations of each AI tool before incorporating them into education-and-self-development.
