A surprise appearance of mysterious “Alpha Models” in ChatGPT has revealed OpenAI is quietly testing powerful new AI agent capabilities powered by GPT-5.
Quick Summary – TLDR:
- Users briefly spotted new “Agent” modes in ChatGPT labeled under Alpha Models.
- These agents activate tool usage automatically, including web browsing and code execution.
- Leaked prompts suggest OpenAI is testing a GPT-5-based agent called “GPT-Alpha”.
- The feature disappeared quickly, hinting at internal testing before a full rollout.
What Happened?
Earlier this week, some ChatGPT users noticed a new section titled “Alpha Models” in the model selector, briefly listing experimental agents like “Agent with Truncation” and “Agent with Prompt Expansion.” These unannounced agents enabled ChatGPT to automatically use tools such as the browser and code interpreter. One of the agents, based on its internal system prompt, was revealed to use GPT-5 and carried the internal name “GPT-Alpha.”
Although the features were removed shortly after they appeared, their brief availability has sparked excitement about what’s next for OpenAI’s most advanced models.
BREAKING 🚨: OpenAI is testing new Agent upgrades for ChatGPT as “Agent with truncation” started appearing in the list of Alpha models.
— TestingCatalog News 🗞 (@testingcatalog) September 24, 2025
Mistake rollout 👀 https://t.co/TuvsRGTws6 pic.twitter.com/Ko4uC4JIOn
Early Glimpse of GPT-5 Power
The system prompt for GPT-Alpha outlined the agent’s wide range of autonomous capabilities:
- Browse the web for live or niche data.
- Generate and edit images.
- Write, run, and debug code.
- Create or edit documents, spreadsheets, and slides.
The agent also includes important constraints, such as not accessing private information unless explicitly provided. These rules suggest OpenAI is already thinking through safe deployment as it moves toward more powerful and autonomous AI.
The mention of GPT-5 for Advanced Reasoning and Tool Use gives weight to speculation that OpenAI is internally trialing its next-gen model ahead of a public release.
Why It Matters for ChatGPT Users?
This leak aligns with recent hints from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who has teased big feature announcements coming soon. While OpenAI has not issued an official comment on the agent test, these appearances suggest the company is close to launching more tool-augmented capabilities within ChatGPT.
Over the next few weeks, we are launching some new compute-intensive offerings. Because of the associated costs, some features will initially only be available to Pro subscribers, and some new products will have additional fees.
— Sam Altman (@sama) September 21, 2025
Our intention remains to drive the cost of…
According to reports, the Alpha Models surfaced due to a backend toggle and were not controlled from the user interface. The sudden removal suggests the release was accidental, possibly from internal testing that was mistakenly made public.
If released, these agents could redefine how ChatGPT handles complex tasks like research or content creation by shifting from user-guided to autonomously executed workflows.
Designed for Power Users and Premium Plans
Given the tool-heavy nature of GPT-Alpha, it seems tailored for power users, developers, and researchers. Sam Altman has previously mentioned that new advanced capabilities may only roll out to paid subscribers due to high compute requirements. That could mean GPT-Alpha, when ready, becomes part of ChatGPT Plus or a new premium tier.
There’s also growing competitive pressure from rivals like Perplexity’s Comet and Microsoft’s Copilot, which makes OpenAI’s agent push even more strategic.
SQ Magazine Takeaway
I find this leak especially exciting because it shows how close we are to seeing truly autonomous agents inside ChatGPT. The fact that these agents can browse, code, and edit images all in one go is a big deal. It’s not just another model update. It’s the foundation of something that could totally change how we use AI in our day-to-day work. Whether you’re a developer, a content creator, or someone who just wants better productivity tools, this could be the next big leap.
