OpenAI’s long-awaited GPT-5 has finally arrived, but the launch didn’t exactly go according to plan. From awkward pauses and a botched chart to a hype-heavy email that landed before the product was even live, this rollout was part tech milestone, part marketing cautionary tale.

In this episode, I break down what worked, what fell flat, and the key lessons any marketer can take from one of the biggest AI announcements of the year (maybe ever). This isn’t just about AI. It’s about audience targeting, managing expectations, and why even billion-dollar companies miss the fundamentals.

In this episode, I cover:

• Why OpenAI’s event style may have been perfect for coders, but alienating for casual users
• How one bad bar chart became a viral “chart crime”
• The confusion between GPT-5 and ChatGPT, and how clearer messaging could help
• Why timing matters (and how a poorly-timed email left users underwhelmed)
• What Apple’s launch style gets right, and why copying it doesn’t always work
• The big marketing takeaway from GPT-5’s debut

If you’re a marketer, creator, or just AI-curious, this breakdown will help you spot the difference between a product evolution and a revolution, and how to market each one effectively.

Do you have a question or just need to vent about your marketing frustrations? Send it to [email protected], and I might just answer it in a future episode.

FRUSTRATED BY YOUR MARKETING? is hosted by Jim DeMicco and presented by SkyeLine Studio.

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