Back to Blog

GPT for Work – 2025 August updates

August introduces major features and improvements: text and image processing in custom prompts, new AI models like GPT-5 and fine-tuned GPT-4.1 models, expanded controls and settings, faster load times in GPT for Sheets, powerful review modes in GPT for Word, and product-specific improvements. August also brings price updates for models without an API key.

Explore the key improvements and announcements below, and check out the release notes for the full details.

🖼️ Use case demo: Combine text and images in prompts

The Custom prompt bulk AI tool can now process images as well as text.

Select a vision model, enter your prompt with one or more text column references, and use the new Configure image columns setting to include up to five columns containing image URLs. The AI will use the prompt, text columns, and image columns to generate responses. Excel Sheets

🤖 New AI models in August 2025

Reasoning, Vision & Fine-tuning

  • OpenAI GPT-5, GPT-5 Mini, and GPT-5 Nano Excel Word Sheets Docs (with or without API key)
    Advanced models that combine vision and reasoning features, making it possible to process images or run reasoning tasks with minimal effort.
  • OpenAI GPT-5 Chat Excel Word Sheets Docs (with or without API key)
    A versatile, conversational model that can flexibly move between reasoning, writing, coding, and explaining—whether you're working, learning, or creating.
  • Fine-tuned OpenAI GPT-4.1 Excel Word Sheets (with API key)
    A fine-tuned model that you can use for specialized tasks and improved performance on specific use cases.

✨ Feature improvements

New controls and settings

  • Control balance: You can now pause or resume space balance usage directly from the GPT for Work dashboard. You can also control your GPT for Docs balance from the GPT for Work dashboard or directly from Sheets. Excel Word Sheets Docs
Pause or resume space balance usage in dashboard
  • New settings:
    • Added Reasoning effort settings for GPT-5, GPT-5 Mini, and GPT-5 Nano (Minimal, Low [default], Medium, High), controlling how many reasoning tokens the model generates before producing a response. Docs
    • Added Verbosity settings for GPT-5, GPT-5 Mini, and GPT-5 Nano (Low [default], Medium, High), allowing finer control over output length. Excel Word Sheets Docs
Verbosity settings

Product-specific improvements

  • GPT_CREATE_PROMPT: New helper function that works like CONCAT but automatically adds spaces and newlines. Excel
  • Azure: Support for a broader set of endpoint URLs, including those ending in cognitiveservices.azure.com. Excel Word
  • Claude 4 Sonnet: Default for new users in GPT for Word, offering better instruction-following and reliability than GPT-4o. Word
  • Token handling: Improved token counting to prevent errors and delays, especially in non-Latin languages. Word

🔎 Review modes in GPT for Word

Choose between three review modes in GPT for Word:

  • Chat: The AI replies in the sidebar. You can insert or replace content from its responses. This is the mode you’ve been using until now.
  • Comment: The AI leaves comments in the margin, like a reviewer would.
  • Suggest: The AI makes tracked edits directly in the document.

Note: Each mode has its own Custom instructions, so you can adjust the AI’s behavior independently. Word

Review modes

⚡ Performance improvements

GPT for Sheets now loads about three times faster, typically opening in ~2 seconds.

💰 Pricing updates

New model prices when used without an API key:

  • OpenAI GPT-4o → $30 (previously $12)
  • OpenAI GPT-4.1 → $20 (previously $10)
  • OpenAI GPT-4.1 Mini → $6 (previously $4)
  • OpenAI GPT-5 → $40 (previously $20)
  • OpenAI GPT-5 Mini → $8 (previously $4)
  • Perplexity Sonar → $10 (previously $5)

The price increase only applies to packs purchased on or after August 27. Packs purchased before August 27 continue to be consumed at the prices at which they were purchased. Excel Word Sheets Docs

📖 To go further

Check out our resources to get the most out of GPT for Work: