Two Years with ChatGPT: From GPT 3.5 to GPT 5, What I’ve Learned as a Professional
Introduction
I have been using ChatGPT for over two years now. When I first signed up the model powering it was GPT 3.5, and since then I have worked through GPT 4, GPT 4o, and most recently GPT 5.
It has been fascinating to watch the tool evolve, but also eye-opening to see what has not changed as much as I expected. Here is my honest reflection on how the experience has shifted and what I think it means for us as professionals.
- The Early Days: GPT 3.5 and GPT 4
GPT 3.5 was my entry point. At the time, it felt groundbreaking. Suddenly I could draft ideas, summarise articles, or brainstorm with an AI assistant. But it also had obvious flaws such as limited reasoning, a tendency to create things that were not true, and not much consistency in tone.
When GPT 4 arrived the difference was noticeable. It was sharper, more reliable, and far more useful in day-to-day professional tasks. That was when I started to rely on it properly.
- From GPT 4 to GPT 5: Expectations vs Reality
With GPT 5, I expected another big leap forward. In practice, it feels more like a series of small improvements.
- GPT 5 often feels slower, with OpenAI explaining this as “taking longer to give a better response.” You can switch to a faster version, but in my experience the difference is not always that striking.
- GPT 5 is slightly better at admitting when it does not know something, which is reassuring. But for everyday professional use such as drafts, summaries, or quick ideas, the gap between GPT 4 and GPT 5 has not felt huge.
- Personally, I have not noticed a major difference in warmth or personalisation. Both models are capable of being formal or conversational, depending on how you prompt them.
So while GPT 5 is smarter on paper, in practice the experience has not changed dramatically.
- Where Custom GPTs Fit In
One new feature I have started exploring with GPT 5 is Custom GPTs. These are personalised versions you can set up to act like an SEO strategist, finance assistant, or content creator. They still have limitations such as no memory of past chats and no ability to create files directly, but they have opened up interesting possibilities for tailoring AI to specific parts of my work.
I will share more about this in a separate article, but it is worth noting here that the biggest opportunity with GPT 5 is not necessarily the model itself, but how we adapt it to fit our needs.
- What This Journey Taught Me
After two years with ChatGPT, my biggest learning is this: each new version feels exciting, but the real difference lies in how we use it.
GPT 3.5 showed me what was possible.
GPT 4 made it reliable enough for professional use.
GPT 5 is a step forward, but not the dramatic leap many might expect.
The real value has not been in the technology itself. It has been in learning how to integrate it into my workflow without losing the human judgement, creativity, and empathy that clients and colleagues still rely on.
Conclusion
GPT 5 is an evolution, not a revolution. It reminds me that AI will keep improving, but professionals still need to lead the way in deciding how to use it wisely.
Ready to put ChatGPT into practice? Explore our AI training programmes and see how you can use it with confidence in your work. Start here.
My career began in the hospitality industry, which gave me a solid grounding in people skills, service and adaptability. Wanting to build on that foundation, I returned to education as a mature…
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