GPT-5.5: My honest review
Riley Brown · 2026-04-24
💡 Quick Take
1. GPT 5.5 (codename Spud) is a new class of intelligence for real work, powering agents that understand complex goals, use tools, check their work, and complete tasks.
2. GPT 5.5 is designed to be a new way of getting computer work done, with a significant focus on controlling browsers and computers.
3. GPT 5.5 is double the price of GPT 5.4 and 20% more expensive than Anthropic's Opus 4.7, but it's significantly more efficient.
4. Evaluate AI models by comparing quality, tokens used, and time taken for a specific task, not just the per-token cost.
5. GPT 5.5 is better at understanding user intent, making prompts more crucial, especially for longer tasks.
6. GPT 5.5 excels at generating documents, spreadsheets, and slide presentations for traditional white-collar jobs.
7. Codeex is highlighted as the best and cheapest place to use GPT 5.5, offering a $20/month plan with a decent amount of usage.
8. Codeex is an AI-powered super app that can create complex web applications, including physics-based ones, with minimal prompts.
9. GPT 5.5 within Codeex is significantly better at browser use and computer use, demonstrating impressive automation capabilities.
10. GPT 5.5 can control your computer to perform tasks like exporting documents and creating new AI chats.
11. GPT 5.5 shows advanced spatial reasoning and rapid execution when creating diagrams and playing games like chess using browser automation.
12. While GPT 5.5 is improving, it's still not as good at design as Opus 4.7 but is getting better.
📊 Detailed Explanation
1. GPT 5.5 is a new class of intelligence for real work, powering agents that understand complex goals, use tools, check their work, and complete tasks. This means GPT 5.5 is a major leap forward, moving beyond simple text generation to become a capable assistant that can handle multi-step processes and self-correction. It's built to tackle "real work," implying it's geared towards practical, complex applications rather than just conversational AI.
2. GPT 5.5 is designed to be a new way of getting computer work done, with a significant focus on controlling browsers and computers. This is a huge deal! The transcript emphasizes this as the "greatest race" between AI companies. The ability for AI to directly interact with and control your computer and browser opens up massive potential for automation in enterprises, automating tasks that previously required human intervention.
3. GPT 5.5 is double the price of GPT 5.4 and 20% more expensive than Anthropic's Opus 4.7, but it's significantly more efficient. While the sticker price is higher, the key takeaway is efficiency. OpenAI claims GPT 5.5 uses fewer tokens to achieve higher quality outputs. This means the *actual cost* for a task might be lower if it completes the job more effectively with less processing power.
4. Evaluate AI models by comparing quality, tokens used, and time taken for a specific task, not just the per-token cost. This is a crucial shift in how businesses should think about AI costs. Instead of just looking at the $5 per million tokens for GPT 5.5 versus $2.5 for GPT 5.4, you need to run identical tasks and measure the output quality, the number of tokens consumed, and the time it took. A model that uses more tokens but delivers a vastly superior result or finishes much faster might actually be more cost-effective overall.
5. GPT 5.5 is better at understanding user intent, making prompts more crucial, especially for longer tasks. Because GPT 5.5 is designed to stay focused on your goal throughout an entire agentic task (which could take over an hour!), it needs a clearer understanding of your original intent. This means crafting detailed and precise prompts is more important than ever to guide the AI effectively.
6. GPT 5.5 excels at generating documents, spreadsheets, and slide presentations for traditional white-collar jobs. This is a direct application of its improved intent understanding and task completion capabilities. The transcript shows examples of generating high-quality Word documents, slide decks, and detailed reports, which are staples of knowledge work.
7. Codeex is highlighted as the best and cheapest place to use GPT 5.5, offering a $20/month plan with a decent amount of usage. Codeex is positioned as the go-to platform for experiencing GPT 5.5. The $20/month plan seems to offer a good balance of access and cost, making it accessible for individuals and smaller teams to leverage this advanced model.
8. Codeex is an AI-powered super app that can create complex web applications, including physics-based ones, with minimal prompts. The train simulator example is a fantastic illustration of this. Creating a functional, interactive simulation with physics in just a few prompts showcases the power and ease of use of Codeex combined with GPT 5.5.
9. GPT 5.5 within Codeex is significantly better at browser use and computer use, demonstrating impressive automation capabilities. The demonstrations of the AI automatically navigating websites, filling forms, and even playing chess against itself are mind-blowing. This is where the "new way of getting computer work done" really shines, showing AI's potential to automate complex digital workflows.
10. GPT 5.5 can control your computer to perform tasks like exporting documents and creating new AI chats. The example of exporting a Canva presentation and then using that to prompt another AI chat demonstrates a seamless workflow that leverages GPT 5.5's ability to interact with your local machine and cloud applications.
11. GPT 5.5 shows advanced spatial reasoning and rapid execution when creating diagrams and playing games like chess using browser automation. The AI's ability to correctly position elements in a flowchart, connect them with arrows, and even execute a four-move checkmate in chess highlights its developing capabilities in understanding visual layouts and strategic execution.
12. While GPT 5.5 is improving, it's still not as good at design as Opus 4.7 but is getting better. This is a nuanced point. While GPT 5.5 is a powerhouse for functionality and automation, it's important to note that for purely aesthetic design tasks, other models might still hold a slight edge. However, the trend is positive, with continuous improvement in this area.
🎯 Expert Opinion
Alright, let's break this down from a pro's perspective. The release of GPT 5.5, codenamed Spud, and its integration into platforms like Codeex is a monumental shift, not just an incremental update. We're talking about a fundamental change in how we interact with computers and automate workflows. The emphasis on "real work" and agentic capabilities means AI is moving from being a sophisticated autocomplete to a genuine digital collaborator that can manage complex, multi-stage projects.
The "race to control the computer" is the absolute core of this evolution. For enterprises, this is where the real value lies. Imagine automating customer support workflows that involve navigating multiple internal systems, or having AI manage complex data analysis pipelines that require interacting with various software. This is no longer science fiction; GPT 5.5 is laying the groundwork for it. The ability to control browsers and desktops means AI can finally break free from the confines of a chat window and directly manipulate the digital environment we work in.
The pricing discussion is critical. Yes, the per-token cost is higher, but this is a classic example of how focusing solely on unit cost is a flawed strategy. The real metric is the **total cost of ownership for a given outcome**. If GPT 5.5 can complete a complex report in half the tokens and half the time of its predecessor, it's not just cheaper; it's exponentially more valuable. This efficiency gain is what will drive adoption in cost-sensitive environments. We're moving towards a model where the *quality of the outcome* and the *speed of execution* are the primary drivers of value, not just the raw token count.
The enhanced understanding of intent is a game-changer for prompt engineering. It means we can move beyond hyper-specific, almost robotic instructions and start giving more natural, goal-oriented prompts. However, this also elevates the skill of prompt crafting. For complex, multi-hour tasks, the initial prompt becomes the blueprint for success. Think of it like giving a highly skilled architect a detailed brief versus a vague idea – the outcome will be vastly different. This will likely lead to a new specialization in "AI workflow design" or "agent orchestration."
Codeex's positioning here is brilliant. By integrating GPT 5.5 and offering it at a competitive price point within their super-app framework, they're creating a powerful ecosystem. Their ability to handle complex app creation, including physics-based simulations, is a testament to the underlying model's capabilities. This isn't just about generating code; it's about generating functional applications with minimal human input. The browser and computer automation features demonstrated are the real stars of the show. The speed and accuracy with which GPT 5.5 navigates interfaces, performs actions, and even plays games like chess are truly impressive. This level of automation has profound implications for testing, quality assurance, and even creative tasks. The chess example, while a bit quirky with the four-move checkmate, shows an AI capable of strategic thinking and execution within a simulated environment.
Looking ahead, the trend of AI controlling our digital environment is only going to accelerate. We'll see more sophisticated agents capable of managing entire projects, from initial research and planning to execution and reporting. The distinction between "browser use" and "computer use" will likely blur as AI becomes more adept at interacting with any digital interface. However, as the transcript notes, design is still an area where specialized models or human oversight might be needed. This suggests a future of collaborative AI, where different models or AI agents work together, each leveraging their strengths. The $20/month plan for Codeex is a smart move to democratize access to this cutting-edge tech, allowing a wider audience to experiment and discover new use cases. I anticipate further advancements in GPT 5.5's ability to handle more nuanced creative tasks and its integration into even more enterprise-level software solutions.
Kanal: Riley Brown