GPT-5 Is Here: Beautiful, Brilliant, and Absolutely Insane (Full Model Showdown)
(Watch the video above to see GPT-5 create the most beautiful Space Invaders you've ever seen – and then try to delete it!)
You're staring at the GPT-5 announcement, wondering if it's finally the AI that will change everything. After months of hype, speculation, and sky-high expectations, it's here.
But here's the million-dollar question: Can it actually deliver?
In the video above, I threw GPT-5 into the ring with Claude Opus 4.1, GLM 4.5, and our baseline models to see which one builds the best apps. The results? Let's just say GPT-5 is like that brilliant friend who shows up late, argues with everyone, creates something absolutely stunning, breaks it, then leaves without explaining anything.
The Ultimate AI Model Cage Match
Here's what went down. I tested each model with three challenges:
- Build an aesthetically beautiful Space Invaders with an unexpected twist
- Create a zen-like CRM for yoga instructors
- Build a text-to-speech playground integrated with Aidolons
Same prompts, same conditions, wildly different results.
GPT-5: The Beautiful Disaster
Let me tell you about GPT-5's first attempt at Space Invaders.
It started writing code. 1,000 lines of pure, confident code. Then, without warning, it scrapped everything and started over. The system literally has guardrails to prevent this behavior, with stern warnings about only doing this if absolutely necessary.
GPT-5 looked at those warnings and said, "Hold my beer."
After wrestling with it (and I mean wrestling), it finally produced the most visually stunning Space Invaders game I've ever seen. Gorgeous neon aesthetics, smooth animations, and a twist where missed shots wrap around the cosmos to hunt you down.
But getting there? Pure chaos.
The Other Contenders Surprise
While GPT-5 was having an existential crisis, the other models quietly got to work.
Claude Opus 4.1: The Reliable Professional
Claude delivered consistently across all tests. Its Space Invaders featured smooth gameplay and clean aesthetics. The yoga CRM? Crisp typography and everything actually worked. When it came to the Aidolons integration, it nailed it on the first try.
No drama. No starting over. Just solid results.
GLM 4.5: The Budget Champion
Here's where things get interesting. GLM 4.5 is open source and ridiculously cheap – by far the most affordable option tested.
Its Space Invaders game had the most unhinged twist: You're not rescuing aliens, you're capturing them against their will. The game literally has a moral crisis halfway through and tells you to "help them escape" instead.
Mental illness in AI? Maybe. Creative genius? Definitely.
For the CRM, GLM delivered a robust dashboard with client management that rivaled the expensive models. The only stumble? It completely failed the Aidolons integration test.
The Baseline: Old Reliable
Our default combo of GPT-3 and Gemini 2.5 Pro? It just worked. Every time. No surprises, no drama, consistent quality. Sometimes boring is exactly what you need.
The Real-World Breakdown
After hours of testing, here's what each model actually costs you:
| Model | Price | Reliability | Quality | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baseline (GPT-3 + Gemini) | $$ | Excellent | Good | Fast |
| Claude Opus 4.1 | $$$$ | Excellent | Excellent | Moderate |
| GLM 4.5 | $ | Good | Good | Very Fast |
| GPT-5 | $$$ | Unpredictable | Excellent* | Fast** |
*When it works
**When it's not rewriting everything
The Verdict Nobody Wants to Hear
GPT-5 is revolutionary. It's also not ready.
When it works, it creates genuinely beautiful, complex applications that make other models look dated. The Space Invaders game it eventually produced was so gorgeous, I actually stopped testing just to play it for a while.
But here's the thing: Beautiful doesn't pay the bills if it takes three times longer and fails half the time.
What This Means for You
If you're building apps with AI right now, here's my advice:
For production work: Stick with the baseline models. Or, if you don't mind paying for it, Claude 4.1. They're predictable, reliable, and won't make you question your sanity.
For creative experiments: GPT-5 might surprise you with something incredible. Just budget extra time for the chaos.
For budget-conscious projects: GLM 4.5 delivers shocking value. It's not perfect, but at that price point, it doesn't need to be.
The Hidden Opportunity
Here's what most people miss: You don't need the "best" model to build profitable apps.
While everyone's waiting for GPT-5 to stabilize, you could be launching apps with the reliable models that already exist. The yoga instructor who needs a CRM doesn't care if it was built with GPT-5 or GLM – they care that it works and solves their problem.
Your Next Move
The AI model wars will continue. New versions will launch. The hype cycle will repeat.
But right now, today, you have access to models that can build real, working applications. The question isn't which model is "best" – it's which one helps you ship faster and serve your users better.
The real winners aren't waiting for perfect AI. They're building with what works today.
If you want to see these models in action yourself, you can test them all in Aidolons. Export your apps to WordPress, connect your payment system, and start making money while everyone else argues about benchmarks.
Because at the end of the day, the best model is the one that helps you deliver value to your customers. Everything else is just noise.
Ready to Build Your Own AI Apps?
You've seen what these models can do. Now it's your turn to start building.
No coding bootcamp required. No expensive developers. Just pick your model and start creating.
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P.S. With Aidolons' 14-day money-back guarantee, if you don't launch a live app within 14 days, you pay absolutely nothing. Even if you just want to play with GPT-5's beautiful disasters, there's zero risk.