On March 5, OpenAI quietly dropped GPT-5.4 . Quiet? Absolutely not.
From a 1 million token context to the ability to directly manipulate the computer — this is not that AI has “gotten smarter”
It is at the level of having “become a different being.” It is having an immediate impact on developers, planners, and content creators alike.
This article summarizes features, benchmarks, pricing, and practical usage tips all in one go. If you're busy, just look at the metrics cards.
1GPT-5.4, Starting with a 3-Line Summary — For the Busy You
GPT-5.4 in a single sentence? “An AI that eats an entire book and even operates a computer on its own.”
To explain it in more detail, it is like this.
① 1 million token context — Processes the equivalent of 7 novels at once.
② Extreme Reasoning Pro Mode — Stick to truly difficult problems with “xhigh effort”
③ Native computer usage — AI directly clicks browsers and spreadsheets.
It means that an AI has emerged that handles computers better than humans.
The GPT-5.4 computer usage ability (OSWorld 75%) has surpassed the human average (72.4%) for the first time .
It means that the era in which AI uses computers instead of us is not "coming soon," but "already here."
Even as you read this, someone might be finishing your entire day's work in 10 minutes with GPT-5.4.
2GPT-5.4, what is different from the previous model?
If you were using the GPT-5.2 or GPT-5.3 Codex, you might say, “It’s out again?”
But this time, it is truly different. It is not just a simple performance upgrade; architectural-level changes have occurred in three places.
| item | GPT-5.3 Codex | GPT-5.4 | Perceived difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| context | 200K tokens | 1.05M tokens | More than 5 times ↑ |
| Inference mode | Basic CoT | Thinking + Pro xhigh | Significantly improved complex problem-solving skills |
| Computer usage | Plugin method | Native integration | Overwhelming speed and stability ↑ |
| Coding performance | SWE-Bench 44% | 57.7% | Approximately 30% improvement |
10,000 tokens is approximately the size of 7 to 8 A4 pages. 1 million tokens is 7,000 to 8,000 A4 pages .
It means you can input the entire seven books of the *Harry Potter* series (about 1 million words) and say, “Analyze the psychological changes of the protagonist in Book 3.”
Process 500 legal contracts, 200 research papers, and the entire codebase in a single conversation.
3 Core Features Deep Dive — Impact by Developer, Planner, and Creator
I will break down the three key features of GPT-5.4 from the perspective of “how this affects my work.”
You should focus on reading the parts closest to your job role.
1 Million Token Context — A “Memory Genius” Has Appeared
The biggest limitation of existing AI was “forgetting what was said earlier.”
GPT-5.4 maintains an ultra-long conversation of 1.05 million tokens .
If you are a developer: You can put the entire large codebase into the context and say, “Find all places where this function is used.”
If you are a planner: Feed six months' worth of meeting minutes and strategy documents at once and say, “Summarize the key decision-making flow.”
To summarize: AI has now lost its 'forgetfulness'.
Extreme Reasoning Pro Mode — “Stupid answers” disappear
Thinking mode shows a reasoning plan before the answer — it is about “thinking about how to think.”
Pro xhigh effort goes further in truly difficult problems such as complex mathematics, coding bugs, and strategy analysis
We delve deep without giving up. GDPval 83% is an accuracy indicator in economic data analysis,
Looking at this, you can see that they are at a level where they can be deployed for practical work in the finance and consulting industries.
However, Pro mode tends to be slow to respond — if you need a quick answer, Thinking mode is sufficient.
Native computer usage — “AI intern” started moving its hands
The OSWorld benchmark 75% is a case where a single number changes the world.
This benchmark measures “how well AI looks at an actual computer screen and performs clicks, typing, and file manipulation.”
The fact that GPT-5.4 recorded 75% while the human average is 72.4% means that AI is better than the average human
It means handling computers better. Organizing Excel, sending emails, organizing after web searches…
The era has arrived where all of this can be automated. It is scary, but those who know have the advantage.
4 Benchmark Roundup — GPT-5.4’s Position in the Numbers
A benchmark is a test report card that objectively compares AI performance.
If you look at the table below, you can see at a glance which fields GPT-5.4 is particularly strong in.
| Benchmark | Measurement area | GPT-5.4 score | What this means is |
|---|---|---|---|
| OSWorld | Direct computer operation | 75% | Exceeding the human average (72.4%) — First time in history |
| SWE-Bench Pro | Fixed actual coding bugs | 57.7% | More than half of bugs in the production codebase are automatically fixed. |
| BrowseComp | Web browsing and information gathering | 82.7% | Most research support tasks can be delegated. |
| GDPval | Economy and Data Analysis | 83% | Practical input level of financial and consulting data analysis |
Compared to Claude 4.6 (Sonnet) and Gemini 3.1 Pro, GPT-5.4 is ahead particularly in computer usage and long text processing.
Claude still shows strengths in creative writing and multilingual nuances .
Conclusion: GPT-5.4 tends to be advantageous for automation, coding, and research, while Claude 4.6 tends to be advantageous for detailed writing and Korean nuances.
(Of course, using both is the best 🙂)
5Price & Access — Which Plan Is Right for Me?
“I know it’s good, but how much is it?” That is the most realistic question.
GPT-5.4 is divided into three layers based on the approach.
| flan | price | Key Features | Recommended for |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT Plus | $20/month | GPT-5.4 Default, Thinking Mode | General users and creators |
| ChatGPT Pro | $200/month | xhigh effort reasoning, computer usage, unlimited | Developers, professionals, and heavy users |
| API (gpt-5.4) | Billing per token | 1.05M Tokens, Production Integration | Startup, Development Team, Service Building |
For general users, Plus ($20) is sufficient. Pro ($200) is for direct computer manipulation or extreme reasoning
It is cost-effective only for those who use it daily for work . Please view the API exclusively for service developers.
Still unsure which plan is right for you? Try Plus for 1 month before deciding .
Official documentation:
openai.com/ko-KR/index/introducing-gpt-5-4/7 Pros and Cons — I'll be honest
That's enough theory. Open ChatGPT right now and copy and paste.
Here are 5 practical prompts to unlock the true power of GPT-5.4.
[Long-term Analysis] Key Summary of Large-scale Documents
"아래 [문서 전체 붙여넣기]를 읽고, ① 핵심 주장 3가지, ② 반론 가능한 약점, ③ 실행 가능한 액션 아이템 5개를 표로 정리해줘. Thinking 모드로 추론 과정 먼저 보여줘."
→ Immediately usable for analyzing reports, papers, and contracts.
[Coding] Bug Detection + Fix All at Once
"아래 코드베이스 [전체 코드 붙여넣기]에서 성능 병목 지점을 찾고, 수정된 코드와 이유를 함께 줘. SWE-Bench 기준 최적화 방식으로."
→ Optimized for code reviews, refactoring, and bug fixing.
[Feature] Analysis of Competitor Strategies
"[경쟁사 A, B, C]의 최근 12개월 전략을 분석하고, 우리 [서비스명]이 취할 수 있는 차별화 포인트 3가지를 제안해줘. Pro 추론 모드로 깊이 있게."
→ Used for strategic planning and drafting market analysis materials.
[Automation] Creating repetitive task scripts
"매주 월요일 특정 웹사이트에서 데이터를 긁어와 구글 시트에 정리하는 Python 스크립트를 작성해줘. 컴퓨터 사용 기능 활용 방식으로 설계해줘."
→ RPA tasks, data pipeline construction.
[Content] SEO Optimized Blog Draft
"[키워드]로 검색 상위를 목표로 하는 블로그 포스트를 작성해줘. EEAT 기준 충족, H2/H3 구조, FAQ 5개, 메타 디스크립션 포함. Thinking 모드로 구조 먼저 잡아줘."
→ Immediately applicable to marketers, bloggers, and content teams.
6Practical Usage — 5 Ready-to-Use Prompts
GPT-5.4 is not a panacea. I have calmed down and objectively summarized its pros and cons .
| division | detail | Perceived impact |
|---|---|---|
| ✅ Strengths | 1 Million Token Long Text Processing — Industry Best | Very high |
| ✅ Strengths | Direct Computer Manipulation — Breaking the Human Level | Very high |
| ✅ Strengths | Top level across coding, research, and data analysis | height |
| ⚠ Weakness | Pro mode response speed is slow (the more complex it is) | middle |
| ⚠ Weakness | Pro Plan $200 per month — burdensome for non-heavy users | middle |
| ⚠ Weakness | The expression of subtle Korean nuances and emotions falls slightly short compared to Claude. | Low (special situation) |
GPT-5.4 Pro mode is actually overkill for situations where a “quick answer” is needed .
For simple writing, summarizing, and translation, Thinking mode (Plus plan) is sufficient.
Expensive tools aren't always good tools — choosing the right mode for my work is key.
8 FAQ — Check here before searching
I have compiled the most frequently asked questions regarding GPT-5.4 in advance.
Can I use GPT-5.4 for free?
Basically, limited access is available on the ChatGPT Free plan .
Thinking mode and computer usage features are enabled on Plus ($20/month) or higher.
The API has a separate billing structure, and costs vary depending on token usage.
What is the difference between GPT-5.4 Pro and Thinking?
Thinking mode is a method that shows the reasoning process first and then provides the answer — suitable for medium difficulty problems.
Pro xhigh effort is a way of thinking much more deeply and for a longer time —
It is suitable for complex mathematics, advanced coding, and multi-layered strategy analysis. The Pro version is slower.
Are computer usage features actually safe?
OpenAI stated that it is designed to run in a sandbox environment.
However, we recommend using it cautiously on screens containing sensitive account or payment information .
Currently, it is only available in a limited environment on the Pro plan.
Conclusion — People who need to use it right now vs. People who can wait a little longer
GPT-5.4 is clearly a turning point in the history of AI . However, not everyone needs the Pro plan right away.
Those who should upgrade right now: Developers with extensive codebase analysis and automation tasks, and legal, consulting, and research professionals for whom processing large volumes of documents is a daily routine,
Startup teams looking to reduce repetitive tasks with AI will definitely get their money's worth with the $200 Pro plan.
For those for whom Plus alone is sufficient: Those whose primary use is daily writing, organizing ideas, translation, and summarizing.
Even with just Thinking mode, the difference compared to the existing GPT-4 is clearly noticeable.
At this point, where AI has surpassed human-level computer manipulation, the most dangerous thing is the mindset of “I’ll try it later.”
Because the productivity gap between those who know and those who don't is widening even at this very moment.
📌 Have you tried the GPT-5.4 yourself?
Please share your most surprising feature or failure experience in the comments. In the next post, I plan to cover the “GPT-5.4 vs. Claude 4.6 Real-World Comparison Test.”
How this content was produced
Aleph's research AI agent assisted with collecting and analyzing public data, creating charts and visuals, and structuring the draft. Davar personally reviewed and edited the sources, figures, reasoning, and final conclusions.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not personalized investment advice or an individual stock recommendation. Read the full disclaimer
Davar
Davar builds and operates Aleph's research AI agent and writes and reviews analysis on macroeconomic developments and AI industry trends.
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