Here's what the scene was like at ChatGPT's exclusive launch party

• OpenAI let ChatGPT plan a launch party to celebrate the release of its latest model, 5.5.
• ChatGPT wanted the event to be held on May 5 at 5:55 pm, with its human creators delivering a toast.
• Pics from attendees show an Apple Store-like experience.

OpenAI's invitation to GPT-5.5's launch party said the vibe would be intimate: a "low-key" gathering with CEO Sam Altman, drinks, swag, and a few hundred developers celebrating the company's latest AI model at its San Francisco headquarters.

Instead, it became one of the hottest tickets in tech, with more than 8,000 people scrambling to get into a party that Altman says ChatGPT itself helped plan.

While it remains unclear how many applicants were ultimately offered access to the exclusive event, those who were accepted were quick to tout their status on social media. However, the rejects still got a party favor: OpenAI offered upgraded Codex rate limits to everyone who requested a ticket, granting additional free access to its coding agent.

Inside, photos posted by attendees show the vibe was somewhere between a developer meetup, a Hollywood premiere, and a very expensive social experiment.

OpenAI did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

An invite felt like a golden ticket

Is today!! see you in the @OpenAI HQ GPT-5.5 Party pic.twitter.com/8xGPUnIngQ

— Diego | AI 🚀 - e/acc (@diegocabezas01) May 5, 2026

It looked like an Apple store opening

At the OpenAI 5.5 party now. pic.twitter.com/Tt0UvycxXo

— Ahmad Awais (@MrAhmadAwais) May 6, 2026

Everyone wanted a photo with sama

really dope party 🔥🔥🔥@sama @OpenAI pic.twitter.com/3crw3ln6kH

— alpha_rover (@Alpha10six) May 6, 2026

Met a really cool person at an AI party😊 @openai @sama pic.twitter.com/ODouAKRYLm

— Derya Unutmaz, MD (@DeryaTR_) May 6, 2026

People wore goblin ears

went full goblin mode with @sama https://t.co/yUg0rO0PnS pic.twitter.com/AOT2nNvbgN

— Kate Deyneka (@katedeyneka) May 6, 2026

Swag included nerdy socks

a few things i collected from the party pic.twitter.com/9LOVnwNL7P

— nic (@nicdunz) May 6, 2026

Someone bought a Sama Lisa?

Such an awesome party, very cool talking to you @sama and the Codex team! pic.twitter.com/bvca8bQqJJ

— thegraxisreal (@thegraxisreal) May 6, 2026

And he was asked to sign it

update - they have brought him a sama lisa pic.twitter.com/KAvlIPh8nr

— Alex (@AlexanderTw33ts) May 6, 2026