OpenAI is gearing up for a series of transformative updates to its ChatGPT ecosystem, with a strong focus on image generation and upcoming AI tools. These changes are set to affect both free and premium users, and could potentially reshape how users interact with the creative capabilities of the platform, especially in countries like India, where adoption is booming.
One of the most significant revelations came from AI researcher @btibor91 on X (formerly Twitter), who discovered early signs of an image watermarking feature for ChatGPT’s image generation tool. In the beta version of the ChatGPT Android app (version 1.2025.091 2509108), there is a line of code referring to "image-gen-watermark-for-free". This strongly suggests that OpenAI is planning to implement watermarks specifically for images generated by free-tier users. If this change is rolled out publicly, it would mark a new era in OpenAI's freemium model—potentially placing restrictions on image usability for those not paying for ChatGPT Plus or Enterprise services.
This update comes at a time when image generation is at the peak of its popularity, particularly with the launch of the GPT-4o model that enables users to create visuals directly through the chat interface. Since its release just two weeks ago, this new feature has taken the AI world by storm. OpenAI Chief Operating Officer Brad Lightcap described the debut of GPT-4o's image generation capabilities as a “very crazy first week,” revealing that users worldwide have already generated more than 700 million images, with 130 million unique users interacting with the feature in a very short span. These are staggering figures, illustrating the massive engagement and the growing importance of AI-assisted visual creation.
Among all markets, India stands out as the fastest-growing. Lightcap underscored the country’s explosive adoption rate, calling it an example of the kind of energy OpenAI hopes to see globally. Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, also chimed in with praise for India, calling its rise in AI engagement “amazing.” In a creative twist, Altman even shared an anime-style AI-generated image of himself dressed as a cricket player wearing an Indian jersey—a clever and culturally relevant gesture that resonated with Indian users, many of whom are cricket enthusiasts. Cricket, often described as the heartbeat of Indian sports fandom, was a strategic motif to strengthen ChatGPT’s appeal in the region.
While watermarking is the most tangible upcoming change for free users, @btibor91 also uncovered hints of several experimental tools and features that may soon be integrated into ChatGPT’s suite. These include:
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Structured Thoughts: Possibly a system for organizing multi-step ideas or breaking down complex problems into manageable components.
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Reasoning Recap: Could be a tool that summarizes the logic used in a conversation or decision tree, aiding users in tracing their own cognitive pathways.
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CoT Search Tool: Presumably related to “Chain-of-Thought” prompting, this might help users navigate prior reasoning steps or search for logically consistent arguments.
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Tool ID l1239dk1: A mysterious internal reference that hasn’t been explained yet, but might correspond to a yet-to-be-announced tool or integration.
None of these features have been formally announced by OpenAI, but their presence in the app’s beta version hints at an active development pipeline aimed at enhancing productivity, creativity, and reasoning support within the ChatGPT interface.
These software-level updates come alongside strategic announcements from Sam Altman regarding OpenAI’s model roadmap. While the release of GPT-5 is still a few months away, Altman has confirmed that OpenAI will first launch two new intermediate models—o3 and o4-mini. These models are expected to drop “probably in a couple of weeks” and will serve as stepping stones toward GPT-5. According to Altman, the timeline for GPT-5 was adjusted to allow for a significant boost in quality. He noted that OpenAI is now positioned to make GPT-5 “much better than we originally thought,” implying major advancements in capability, reasoning, and probably multimodal functionality.
These updates come at a pivotal moment. As OpenAI continues to expand its reach, its platform is no longer seen as just a chatbot or a productivity assistant—it is becoming a multifaceted creative and analytical engine used by students, professionals, artists, researchers, and businesses around the world. The decision to potentially watermark images created by free users could signal a push toward monetization and responsible content tracking, especially in an era where AI-generated media is rapidly spreading across social platforms.
The overall tone from OpenAI suggests both excitement and caution. While they're embracing the incredible surge in usage—especially in dynamic markets like India—they are also laying the groundwork for more structure, more quality, and more defined user tiers in the near future.
