I Tested The New Gpt 5 2 It Just Can T Compete With Google Gemini 3

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Jan 2, 2026, 5:37 AM

i tested the new gpt 5 2 it just can t compete with google gemini 3

OpenAI has had a whirlwind second half of 2025, releasing the GPT-5, GPT-5.1, and now GPT-5.2 models for ChatGPT. But Google is more than keeping pace; it most recently launched its 3 Series of Gemini models, which includes Nano Banana Pro. Both OpenAI and Google promise more capable, more responsive AI chatbots courtesy of these updates. However, based on my testing, you probably won’t notice a difference with GPT-5.2, whereas Gemini 3's improvements are much more appreciable. Here’s everything you need to know about the latest updates to the biggest chatbots in the world. If it sounds strange that GPT-5.2 arrived less than a month after GPT-5.1, you're not wrong.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently declared a “code red” at the company, ordering employees to focus on immediate improvements to ChatGPT. The first half of Gemini 3 (3 Pro and Nano Banana Pro) came out just days after GPT-5.1, and it beat ChatGPT in various benchmarks. So, I believe OpenAI yanked GPT-5.2 out of the oven before it was fully cooked, just to try and keep up with Gemini. Why does Gemini 3 have OpenAI on the back foot? Well, for one, Gemini 3 brought with it Nano Banana Pro, which is the AI image generation model to beat right now. Though it’s not part of the GPT-5.2 package, OpenAI recently launched its own next-generation image model, GPT Image 1.5.

I tested this one, and while it's definitely an improvement over ChatGPT’s previous image generation model, it doesn’t unseat Nano Banana Pro. Outside of image generation, Google promises a lot with Gemini 3, which encompasses 3 Flash, 3 Pro, and Nano Banana Pro. It claims that everything from the speed at which Gemini generates responses to the depth and quality of its deep research should be better. Google calls 3 Pro its “most intelligent model” with “frontier performance across complex reasoning” and says that 3 Flash “combin[es] Gemini 3's Pro-grade reasoning with Flash-level latency, efficiency and cost.” OpenAI similarly promises significant under-the-hood performance upgrades that add up to a more responsive, smarter ChatGPT. Specifically, OpenAI advertises GPT-5.2 as being better at building presentations, completing complex projects, creating spreadsheets, perceiving images, understanding long contexts, and using tools.

GPT-5.2’s upgrades are somewhat less wide-ranging than what Google promises with Gemini 3, but they both add up to models that are theoretically more intelligent and responsive. OpenAI has officially released GPT-5.2 on December 11, 2025, marking a significant upgrade in the GPT-5 series. This point release positions it as the company’s most capable model yet for professional knowledge work, with major advancements in reasoning, long-context processing, tool use, coding, and hallucination reduction. The launch came quickly amid fierce competition, particularly following Google’s Gemini 3 release in November 2025, which had claimed top spots on several leaderboards. GPT-5.2 isn’t a brand-new generation (GPT-5 launched in August 2025, followed by GPT-5.1 in November), but a refined iteration available in three variants: A specialized GPT-5.2-Codex variant focuses on advanced coding and cybersecurity, released... Both models launched close together and dominate current benchmarks, often trading wins depending on the task: Category GPT-5.2 Strengths Gemini 3 Pro Strengths Edge (Based on Benchmarks & Reports) Reasoning & Math/Science Leads on...

Bottom Line: Choose GPT-5.2 for intensive professional work (coding, data analysis, reliable agents)—it’s engineered for productivity and trustworthiness. Opt for Gemini 3 Pro (via gemini.google.com or Vertex AI) for creative multimodal tasks, video processing, or deep Google ecosystem ties. OpenAI has had a whirlwind second half of 2025, releasing the GPT-5, GPT-5.1, and now GPT-5.2 models for ChatGPT. But Google is more than keeping pace; it most recently launched its 3 Series of Gemini models, which includes Nano Banana Pro. Both OpenAI and Google promise more capable, more responsive AI chatbots courtesy of these updates. However, based on my testing, you probably won’t notice a difference with GPT-5.2, whereas Gemini 3's improvements are much more appreciable.

Here’s everything you need to know about the latest updates to the biggest chatbots in the world. If it sounds strange that GPT-5.2 arrived less than a month after GPT-5.1, you're not wrong. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently declared a “code red” at the company, ordering employees to focus on immediate improvements to ChatGPT. The first half of Gemini 3 (3 Pro and Nano Banana Pro) came out just days after GPT-5.1, and it beat ChatGPT in various benchmarks. So, I believe OpenAI yanked GPT-5.2 out of the oven before it was fully cooked, just to try and keep up with Gemini. Why does Gemini 3 have OpenAI on the back foot?

Well, for one, Gemini 3 brought with it Nano Banana Pro, which is the AI image generation model to beat right now. Though it’s not part of the GPT-5.2 package, OpenAI recently launched its own next-generation image model, GPT Image 1.5. I tested this one, and while it's definitely an improvement over ChatGPT’s previous image generation model, it doesn’t unseat Nano Banana Pro. Outside of image generation, Google promises a lot with Gemini 3, which encompasses 3 Flash, 3 Pro, and Nano Banana Pro. It claims that everything from the speed at which Gemini generates responses to the depth and quality of its deep research should be better. Google calls 3 Pro its “most intelligent model” with “frontier performance across complex reasoning” and says that 3 Flash “combin[es] Gemini 3's Pro-grade reasoning with Flash-level latency, efficiency and cost.”

OpenAI similarly promises significant under-the-hood performance upgrades that add up to a more responsive, smarter ChatGPT. Specifically, OpenAI advertises GPT-5.2 as being better at building presentations, completing complex projects, creating spreadsheets, perceiving images, understanding long contexts, and using tools. GPT-5.2’s upgrades are somewhat less wide-ranging than what Google promises with Gemini 3, but they both add up to models that are theoretically more intelligent and responsive. OpenAI's latest AI model GPT-5.2 is here. But how does it compare to its biggest competitor, Google's Gemini 3? The ChatGPT creator launched the GPT-5.2 on Thursday, and it's currently rolling out to paid ChatGPT customers, with wider access to follow.

The TL;DR is painfully simple. If you want the best standalone AI experience for writing, coding, and structured tasks, GPT-5.2 is outstanding. If you want an AI that lives everywhere you already work, Gemini 3 is unmatched. I woke up the morning GPT-5.2 dropped the same way I wake up during every major AI launch cycle: phone buzzing, Slack lighting up like a Christmas tree, and at least one leaked memo... You don’t do it unless you’re genuinely spooked. The primary keyword here, in case Google’s crawler is listening with popcorn in hand, is GPT-5.2 vs Gemini 3, and that comparison matters because this isn’t just another incremental update.

This is OpenAI and Google planting flags and daring each other to blink. GPT-5.2 is OpenAI’s loud, deliberate answer to Gemini 3, Google’s “most intelligent model yet,” which had just spent weeks steamrolling leaderboards and racking up clout on LMArena like it was speedrunning an RPG on... So the question everyone’s asking, from indie devs to enterprise CTOs to nerds like me who read benchmark tables for fun, is simple: how does GPT-5.2 stack up against Gemini 3 when you strip... Spoiler alert: this is less Rocky vs Ivan Drago and more chess grandmasters trading blows, one Sicilian Defense at a time. To understand why GPT-5.2 vs Gemini 3 feels like a heavyweight bout instead of just another tech press cycle, you have to zoom out. OpenAI and Google aren’t just shipping models; they’re shipping philosophies.

OpenAI has built its brand on being the default interface to “AI that just works,” while Google has quietly (and sometimes not so quietly) been wiring Gemini into everything with a power button and... For a few weeks now, the tech community has been amazed by all these new AI models coming out every few days. 🥴 But the catch is, there are so many of them right now that we devs aren't really sure which AI model to use when it comes to working with code, especially as your daily... Just a few weeks ago, Anthropic released Opus 4.5, Google released Gemini 3, and OpenAI released GPT-5.2 (Codex), all of which claim at some point to be the "so-called" best for coding. But now the question arises: how much better or worse is each of them when compared to real-world scenarios?

If you want a quick take, here is how the three models performed in these tests: Google is a California-based multinational technology company that offers internet-related services such as a search engine, online advertising and cloud computing. OpenAI has just rolled out ChatGPT 5.2, a fresh flagship update that’s quickly becoming one of the most searched AI topics right now. Recent reporting suggests OpenAI moved fast amid pressure from Google’s Gemini 3 Pro, but beyond the headlines, the real story is practical: ChatGPT 5.2 focuses on smoother “knowledge work” (coding, long documents, and deliverables... In this guide, we’ll cover the latest ChatGPT 5.2 model, what’s actually new, and a ChatGPT 5.2 vs Gemini 3 Pro comparison so you can pick the right model for your use case. ChatGPT 5.2 refers to the new GPT-5.2 model series rolling out inside ChatGPT, launched December 11, 2025.

OpenAI also highlights safety improvements in sensitive conversations and an age-prediction approach being rolled out in some places. OpenAI says GPT-5.2 begins rolling out in ChatGPT, starting with paid plans (Plus, Pro, Go, Business, Enterprise) and is deployed gradually. GPT-5.1 remains available to paid users for three months under “legacy models.” OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, has moved at an unusually fast pace in 2025. According to the company, it launched GPT-5 in August, followed by GPT-5.1 in November. Now, just weeks later, GPT-5.2 has launched with familiar claims of being the smartest and most capable ChatGPT yet.

At first glance, the rapid rollout might seem surprising. But there’s context behind it. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has reportedly called a “code red” inside the company, urging teams to move faster on improving ChatGPT. That push comes as competition heats up. Google recently released Gemini 3, which reportedly outperformed ChatGPT on several benchmarks and delivered stronger image generation. At the same time, Anthropic’s Claude continues to advance quickly.

Against that backdrop, GPT-5.2 feels less like a routine upgrade and more like a strategic response. So what actually changed in GPT-5.2, and why does OpenAI say it matters? GPT-5.2 is the newest version in OpenAI’s flagship 5-series of large language models. Like its predecessor, it includes two default variants. GPT-5.2 Instant is designed for everyday chatting and web searches. GPT-5.2 Thinking is meant for more complex tasks like long reasoning chains and multi-step problem solving.

These two models are now the default for all ChatGPT users, including free users. They replace GPT-5.1 Instant and Thinking entirely. If you are using ChatGPT today, you are already using GPT-5.2, whether you realize it or not. At the same time, OpenAI continues to position GPT-5 as “expert intelligence for everyone.” The company says GPT-5 delivers stronger performance across math, science, finance, law and other complex subjects. In OpenAI’s view, ChatGPT now acts more like a team of on-demand experts than a basic chatbot. To support that claim, OpenAI points to practical examples.

These include better coding help, more expressive writing support, clearer health-related explanations and improved safety and accuracy. The company showcases use cases such as generating app code, writing speeches, explaining medications and correcting mistakes in user-submitted images. In theory, GPT-5.2 builds on that same foundation. However, while OpenAI emphasizes deeper thinking and more reliable answers, those gains remain subtle for many everyday users.

I Tested The New Gpt 5 2 It Just Can T Compete With Google Gemini 3

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