Most people are still talking to GPT-5 like it’s GPT-4 with a shiny paint job. That’s why the outputs feel generic, surface-level, or just plain off. Here’s the reality: GPT-5 doesn’t work the same way. This model thrives on structure and planning, not lazy one-liners. If your results aren’t clicking, the issue isn’t the AI—it’s your approach.

If your GPT-5 results have felt a little… underwhelming, you’re not imagining things. Pietro Schirano, CEO of Magic Path, recently dropped a comprehensive GPT-5 prompting guide that explains why — and how to fix it. The short version? GPT-5 is way more sensitive to instruction style than earlier models, and most of us are still prompting like it’s GPT-4.