OpenAI recently announced its ChatGPT 4o update, which took the AI model to the second spot on the Arena leaderboard, surpassing GPT-4.5. As per the X post from lmarena.ai (formerly lmsys.org), the newest ChatGPT-4o release (dated March 26, 2025) shows a major improvement over its January version, gaining 30 points and climbing from rank No. 5 to No. 2.
News: the latest ChatGPT-4o (2025-03-26) jumps to #2 on Arena, surpassing GPT-4.5!
— lmarena.ai (formerly lmsys.org) (@lmarena_ai) March 27, 2025
Highlights
– Significant improvement over the January version (+30 pts, #5->#2)
– Tied #1 in Coding, Hard Prompts. Top-2 across ALL categories
– Matching or surpassing GPT-4.5 with 10x cheaper… https://t.co/m5jQ0BXffV pic.twitter.com/3NK7Eh6Ri8
ChatGPT-4o: Key Improvements
OpenAI has made some important improvements with GPT 4o. Here are some of the key areas:
- Smarter STEM and coding capabilities: The model now produces cleaner frontend code, accurately analyzes existing code for required changes, and ensures outputs are compiled and run successfully.
- Better instruction-following and formatting accuracy: It is now more precise in handling complex prompts and generating structured responses.
- Improved intuitive responses: GPT-4o has improved its ability to understand implied intent, making its responses clearer and more concise.
This updated model is already available for ChatGPT and via the API as the latest snapshot of chatbot-to-latest. However, the company is also planning to roll out these improvements to older API models in the coming weeks.
Performance Gains on Arena Leaderboard
The model has showcased significant improvements across multiple categories on Arena:
- Math Ranking: Jumped from No. 14 to No. 2
- Hard Prompts Ranking: Moved from No. 7 to No. 1
- Coding Ranking: Now tied at No. 1
It is now tied for first place in coding and handling complex prompts while ranking in the top two across all categories. Additionally, it matches or surpasses GPT-4.5 in performance while being 10x cheaper.
Here’s what OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said about the latest update:
new version of GPT-4o particularly good at coding, instruction following, and freedom.
— Sam Altman (@sama) March 28, 2025
we updated GPT-4o! really big strides.
— Sam Altman (@sama) March 27, 2025
more updates to come. https://t.co/gCv6d1jk65
On a similar note, the company also announced its GPT-4o image generator on March 25, 2025, and it has become an overnight sensation thanks to the ability to replicate Studio Ghibli’s hand-drawn aesthetic. From reimagined Bollywood classics to Elon Musk’s crypto-themed anime avatar, users worldwide are harnessing AI to craft whimsical, pastel-hued artworks mimicking the iconic Japanese animation style.
