OpenAI, the artificial intelligence research organization, is gearing up to launch a suite of new AI models, including a revamped version of its GPT-4o multimodal model, dubbed GPT-4.1, sources familiar with the company's plans have revealed. The new models are expected to debut as early as next week, although the company has cautioned that capacity issues may cause delays.

The GPT-4.1 model is expected to be a significant upgrade to the original GPT-4o model, which was introduced last year as a flagship model capable of reasoning across audio, vision, and text in real-time. Alongside the full version of GPT-4.1, OpenAI will also release smaller mini and nano versions, catering to different use cases and computational requirements.

In addition to the GPT-4.1 models, OpenAI is also preparing to launch its o3 reasoning model and an o4 mini version. AI engineer Tibo Blaho discovered references to these models in a new ChatGPT web version, suggesting an imminent release. The o3 and o4 mini models are expected to debut next week, although the exact timeline may be subject to change.

The upcoming releases come at a time when OpenAI is facing capacity challenges, which have forced the company to temporarily rate limit requests and delay the introduction of new models. In a recent post on X, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman warned customers to expect delays, service disruptions, and occasional slow performance due to the company's struggles to keep up with demand.

Altman also joked about the company's GPUs "melting" due to the popularity of the built-in image generator for users of ChatGPT's free tier. The capacity issues are a testament to the growing demand for OpenAI's AI models, which have been increasingly adopted across various industries and applications.

The launch of GPT-4.1 and other advanced AI models is expected to have significant implications for the tech industry, enabling more sophisticated AI applications and further blurring the lines between human and machine capabilities. As OpenAI continues to push the boundaries of AI research and development, the company's new models are likely to have a profound impact on the future of technology.

While OpenAI has not officially commented on the upcoming releases, the company's commitment to advancing AI research and development is clear. As the AI landscape continues to evolve, OpenAI's new models are likely to play a key role in shaping the future of technology and beyond.