OpenAI has filed a trademark application for the name “GPT-5” which is expected to be the next major iteration of their AI that power systems like ChatGPT.
According to the July 18th filing with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), GPT-5 would provide, among other things, services related to “computer software for natural language processing, natural language generation, natural language understanding, [and] natural language analysis”. It broadly covers both online and downloadable software.
In a June interview, OpenAI CEO, Sam Altman, touched on the development of GPT-5.
“We have a lot of work to do before GPT-5. It takes a lot of time for it. We are not certainly close to it. There needs to be more safety audits. I wish I could tell you about the timeline of the next GPT.” - Sam Altman
While the trademark application does not confirm GPT-5 is in active development, it does indicate OpenAI is looking to the future and wants to secure the GPT-5 name. Tech companies often file trademarks to protect intellectual property without an immediate plan to launch a product.
OpenAI has recently become more diligent in protecting its intellectual properties. The company filed for a trademark on ‘GPT’ with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in December 2022, and in April, began petitioning the USPTO to expedite the process citing the surge of applications named after GPT. However, the request was dismissed due to incomplete paperwork and evidence.
The company's trademark application portfolio includes GPT-3, ChatGPT, GPT, CODEX, WHISPER, and GPT-4. They also filed for an unspecified symbol described as "a four pointed star inside of a circle with another circle in the center of the star".
OpenAI's GPT-5 trademark filing shows their strategic foresight to protect their brand integrity. Securing the GPT-5 name prevents unauthorized use and signals the company's ongoing efforts to advance its AI.