OpenAI's All In On GPT-5 & Dumps o3, 12 Must Have Skills for Designers, The Art of Serving Stories and more

Most mechanical soccer player. Literally.

Author

Charbel Zeaiter
February 15, 2025

Happy Saturday!

Altman’s brain and hence, OpenAI are getting more and more difficult to keep up with. GPT-5 is on it’s way; one large umbrella to top over all else. Even o3.

In other news, Google’s robots have taken up soccer. Might as well have an electronic league one day. Also, if you want your design to feel like a pamper, there’s 12 skills you should master.

By the end of this newsletter, you’ll be miles ahead as the world wonders, ‘what happened?’

Have an awesome weekend 🙏

Yours in Wonder,
Charbel
Founder of Velvet Onion, Faster Zebra and more to come …

Today’s Highlights

  • AI: OpenAI Ditches o3, Goes All-In On GPT-5

  • Design: 12 Must-Have Skills for Designers in 2025

  • Science & Tech: Google DeepMind’s Robots Play Soccer

  • Founding: 10 Bits on telling the Right Stories, to the Right People, through the Right Medium

  • Product: Wikipedia’s “Maybe Later” Conversion Hack

  • Today’s AI image: “Our player has malfunctioned. He needs repair.”

  • Quote for the day: A Line to Instantly Make You Relax and Smile

AI

OpenAI Ditches o3, Goes All-In On GPT-5

In a surprise move, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has scrapped the planned release of model o3, opting instead for a streamlined, all-in-one GPT-5 system.

The goal? A simpler, more cohesive AI experience.

All You Need To Know

  • Rather than launching o3 separately, its features will be folded into GPT-5, creating a unified AI ecosystem.

  • Free users get a "standard intelligence" version of GPT-5, while Plus and Pro subscribers unlock higher-performance models and extra tools.

  • Before the big leap, OpenAI will roll out GPT-4.5 (codenamed "Orion") in the coming weeks—the last non-chain-of-thought model.

  • The once-anticipated model is now redundant, with its tech absorbed into the broader GPT-5 framework.

  • Expect GPT-4.5 in a matter of weeks, while GPT-5 will arrive in "months," according to Altman.

Why is this a big deal?

AI model names and versions have turned into a confusing mess, making it tricky for users to know what they’re actually getting.

OpenAI’s new approach could change that—GPT-5 seems set to auto-select the best model and tools for each task, making AI more seamless and user-friendly than ever.

Also in AI

Design

12 Must-Have Skills for Designers in 2025

The design industry is evolving rapidly, with new tools, trends, and challenges shaping the way creatives work.

Whether you're just starting out or looking to stay ahead, mastering adaptability, new technologies, and foundational design principles is crucial.

Here are key strategies for growth in 2025.

1. Stay Curious

Curiosity fuels creativity. Staying engaged with emerging trends, experimenting with tools, and stepping away from the screen to seek inspiration in new environments can lead to more original, meaningful work.

2. Leverage AI Thoughtfully

AI is a powerful tool, but designers must use it wisely—automating repetitive tasks while ensuring originality and human creativity remain at the forefront of their work.

3. Reconnect with Physical Craft

Digital design dominates, but hands-on techniques like sketching, mood boarding, and working with materials can bring depth and authenticity to creative projects.

4. Embrace Motion and Dynamic Design

Static branding is no longer enough. Understanding motion design principles, animation, and storytelling in movement helps designers create more engaging and immersive experiences.

5. Diversify Your Skill Set

Being a T-shaped designer—with a deep specialism and a broad understanding of other disciplines—allows for greater adaptability and collaboration across industries.

6. Collaborate Effectively

Mastering tools like Figma, Miro, and Figjam enhances teamwork, speeds up workflows, and improves co-creation with clients and colleagues. Strong communication and strategic thinking are just as important as design skills.

7. Develop Critical Thinking

Great design isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about problem-solving. Understanding the "why" behind a project, engaging with the brief on a deeper level, and articulating design choices convincingly set top designers apart.

8. Prioritise Typography Skills

Typography remains a fundamental design skill. Mastering hierarchy, composition, and typographic expression ensures designs are both functional and visually compelling.

9. Trust Your Intuition

The best ideas often come from instinct rather than over-rationalisation. Designers who follow their creative gut and take risks are more likely to produce work that resonates emotionally.

10. Maintain Resilience and Generosity

Creative work requires patience and persistence. Giving ideas time to evolve, being open to new directions, and working collaboratively rather than rigidly sticking to pre-defined boundaries can lead to stronger results.

11. Let Ideas Breathe

Creativity needs space to flourish. Rigid timelines can stifle innovation, while flexibility allows unexpected brilliance to emerge.

12. Bounce Back Stronger

Setbacks aren’t failures—they’re stepping stones. Resilience turns rejection into growth, making you a sharper, more adaptable creative.

Also in Design

Science & Tech

Google DeepMind’s Robots Play Soccer

Google DeepMind has trained miniature humanoid robots to play soccer, teaching them to walk, kick, and recover from falls.

It’s not quite the World Cup, but it’s an impressive leap in robotic movement.

These robots aren’t just kicking wildly—they understand soccer fundamentals.

They anticipate ball movement, time their kicks, and even defend against incoming shots, showing signs of strategic play.

Why This Is a Big Deal

This isn’t just about robots having a kickabout. It’s a major step in AI-driven physical coordination, with potential applications in everything from automated labour to advanced prosthetics.

Also in Science & Tech

Founding

10 Bits on Telling the Right Stories, to the Right People, through the Right Medium

1. Build a Human Connection

Tell stories that tap into universal themes—family, survival, ambition—to create instant relatability.

2. Make It Easy to Retell

A great story spreads when its key ideas and themes are simple enough for others to repeat.

3. Use Vivid Detail

Transport your audience with sensory descriptions and emotional honesty to make your story feel real.

4. Structure with Purpose

Craft a clear beginning, middle, and end. Use tension and resolution to keep engagement high.

5. Choose the Right Medium

Match your story to its best format—text for depth, video for impact, audio for intimacy, or interactive for engagement.

6. Trigger an Emotional Response

Stories that evoke joy, nostalgia, or inspiration leave a lasting impression and influence behaviour.

7. Give Characters a Role the Audience Wants to Play

People connect deeply with stories when they can see themselves in them.

8. Blend Facts with Narrative

Data is powerful, but wrapping it in a compelling story makes it unforgettable.

9. Keep It Authentic

Authenticity builds trust—people sense when a story is contrived or insincere.

10. Use Storytelling to Drive Action

Beyond entertainment, stories inspire decisions, shift perspectives, and create movements.

Storytelling is a strategic advantage.

A well-told tale cuts through the noise, wins hearts and closes deals.

Also in Founding

Product

Wikipedia’s “Maybe Later” Conversion Hack

1. Stop Wasting ‘Maybe Later’ Clicks

Most websites treat “Maybe Later” like a dead end. Wikipedia turns it into an opportunity by asking for an email instead of just closing the popup.

2. Leverage the Consistency Effect

When people choose “Maybe Later,” they’re subtly committing to considering the offer. Following up with an email aligns with their initial intent, making them more likely to convert later.

3. Capture Emails at the Right Moment

Add an email field after users click “Maybe Later” on popups, upgrade prompts, trial expirations, or limited-time offers. Simple copy like “Want a reminder? Drop your email” works best.

4. Automate Smart Follow-Ups

  • Send a friendly reminder within 24 hours.

  • Follow up a week later, highlighting missed benefits.

  • Close with a final nudge, ideally with a time-sensitive offer.

5. Make Saying ‘Yes’ Effortless

Keep reminder emails focused on a single action—one button, one step, zero friction. Remind them they’ve already shown interest.

6. Test and Optimise Timing

Send reminders at different intervals to find the sweet spot. Too soon feels spammy, too late loses momentum.

Don’t Let ‘Maybe Later’ Be the End

Most brands let potential customers slip away.

Smart marketers turn hesitation into future sales with a simple email.

If Wikipedia can raise $169M with this trick, imagine what it could do for your business.

Today’s AI Image

“Our player has malfunctioned. He needs repair.”

Quote of the Day

A Line to Instantly Make You Relax and Smile

"Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated."

Confucius

What we’re working on

Velvet Onion & Friends

The new Velvet Onion & Friends will be launched soon. It’s our latest evolution, helping companies build products. It’s more than services.

Faster Zebra

February 2025 - the product and venture school journey begins. Whitepaper launching in January.

🧞Your wish is my command

Charbel

Keeping you updated with daily insights on rapid changes in business, tech, design, product, as well as news about science, environment, and wellness. Join the community today!

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