ChatGPT’s new top model, a powerful Claude that can cost extra, and fake celebrity investment videos: This Week, Plainly #5

Hello again. This week both OpenAI and Anthropic launched new top-of-the-range models, the kind built for long, heavy jobs rather than everyday questions. Here’s what they mean for you (not much, unless you pay), plus a scam worth knowing about.

1. ChatGPT gets a new top model, for paying customers

What happened: On 3 September OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, released GPT-6 Astra, its most capable model so far. It’s designed for long, demanding work: research, building documents and spreadsheets, and working through a task step by step. It’s arriving first on the most expensive plans (Pro and business accounts), with Plus subscribers getting it over the following days. It isn’t part of the free plan.

Should you care? ⚪ Not unless you pay for ChatGPT and do heavy work. If you’re on Plus, it will appear in the model picker (the menu for choosing which version of ChatGPT answers you) once it reaches your account. Don’t upgrade just for this. For everyday questions, letters and recipes, the standard ChatGPT is more than enough.

2. Claude’s most powerful model arrives, but it can cost extra

What happened: On 1 September Anthropic, the company behind Claude, released Claude Fable 5.1, its most powerful model, aimed at big, complicated jobs. It isn’t on the free plan. On the Pro plan it isn’t included in your normal allowance: you pay for it separately with “usage credits”, a pay-as-you-go top-up. The more expensive Max plan includes it, up to half of your weekly usage.

Should you care? 🟠 Only if you’re on Claude Pro, and mainly so you don’t pay for it by accident. Stick with the standard Claude model unless you know you need something heavier. If you do try Fable, keep an eye on how many credits you’re using. Free users: nothing changes for you.

3. 🔴 Scam watch: fake celebrity videos selling “investments”

What happened: Which? has warned that investment scams are rising fast, and that criminals are using deepfakes (fake videos made with AI that look and sound like a real person) to sell them. It found a fake video of Nigel Farage on Instagram, dressed up to look like a clip from Question Time, promoting a trading platform that the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) had already warned about. Martin Lewis, Rishi Sunak and Bear Grylls have also had their faces used. UK Finance figures show investment fraud losses hit £221.5 million in 2025, the highest ever recorded.

Should you care? 🔴 Yes, this is the one to remember. No real celebrity is quietly recommending an investment in a social media advert. Warning signs:

Pressure to act quickly, or “guaranteed” high returns
Being told to keep the investment secret
A call, email or message you didn’t ask for
Before investing anywhere, search for the firm on the FCA register, and take advice from an FCA-regulated financial adviser rather than a social media video

Report it at reportfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040, and tell your bank straight away if you’ve paid.

💡 Tip of the week

Just say “shorter, please”. If an answer is too long or too complicated, you don’t need to start again. Reply “Shorter, please”, “In three bullet points” or “Explain that more simply”, and it will have another go.

That’s it for this week. Know someone who’d find this useful? Forward it on. It’s free, and they can sign up at deadeasyai.com/news.