diff --git a/backend/app/routes/focus_group_ai.py b/backend/app/routes/focus_group_ai.py
index 1bbd6799..46ae53b3 100755
--- a/backend/app/routes/focus_group_ai.py
+++ b/backend/app/routes/focus_group_ai.py
@@ -189,8 +189,8 @@ Be genuine and specific in your feedback, drawing on your personal experiences a
                     conversation_context=multimodal_context['conversation_context'],
                     temperature=temperature,
                     model_name=llm_model,
-                    reasoning_effort=reasoning_effort if llm_model == 'gpt-5.2' else None,
-                    verbosity=verbosity if llm_model == 'gpt-5.2' else None
+                    reasoning_effort=reasoning_effort if llm_model in ('gpt-5', 'gpt-5.2') else None,
+                    verbosity=verbosity if llm_model in ('gpt-5', 'gpt-5.2') else None
                 )
             else:
                 print(f"💬 Using standard response generation (no visual context)")
diff --git a/backend/app/services/focus_group_response_service.py b/backend/app/services/focus_group_response_service.py
index d21e2d67..664f0134 100755
--- a/backend/app/services/focus_group_response_service.py
+++ b/backend/app/services/focus_group_response_service.py
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ async def generate_persona_response(
         print(f"🎭 Generating persona response for {persona.get('name', 'Unknown')}")
         print(f"  - focus_group_id: {focus_group_id}")
         print(f"  - current_topic: {current_topic[:50]}...")
-        if llm_model == 'gpt-5.2':
+        if llm_model in ('gpt-5', 'gpt-5.2'):
             print(f"  - llm_model: {llm_model} (reasoning_effort: {reasoning_effort or 'medium'}, verbosity: {verbosity or 'medium'}) [using Responses API]")
         else:
             print(f"  - llm_model: {llm_model or 'default (gemini-3-pro-preview)'}")
diff --git a/backend/app/services/llm_service.py b/backend/app/services/llm_service.py
index 889ce2ae..8e2fa5f5 100755
--- a/backend/app/services/llm_service.py
+++ b/backend/app/services/llm_service.py
@@ -53,6 +53,11 @@ SUPPORTED_MODELS = {
     'gpt-5.2': 'openai'
 }
 
+# Aliases for renamed/legacy model IDs stored in the database
+MODEL_ALIASES = {
+    'gpt-5': 'gpt-5.2',
+}
+
 class LLMServiceError(Exception):
     """Exception raised for errors in LLM operations."""
     pass
@@ -91,18 +96,32 @@ class LLMService:
             
         return result.strip()
     
+    @staticmethod
+    def _resolve_model(model_name: Optional[str] = None) -> str:
+        """
+        Resolve a model name, applying aliases for legacy/renamed models.
+
+        Args:
+            model_name: Optional model name to use. Defaults to the default model.
+
+        Returns:
+            The resolved model name
+        """
+        actual_model = model_name or DEFAULT_MODEL
+        return MODEL_ALIASES.get(actual_model, actual_model)
+
     @staticmethod
     def _get_model_provider(model_name: Optional[str] = None) -> str:
         """
         Get the provider for a given model name.
-        
+
         Args:
             model_name: Optional model name to use. Defaults to the default model.
-            
+
         Returns:
             The provider name ('gemini' or 'openai')
         """
-        actual_model = model_name or DEFAULT_MODEL
+        actual_model = LLMService._resolve_model(model_name)
         return SUPPORTED_MODELS.get(actual_model, 'gemini')
     
     
@@ -180,7 +199,7 @@ class LLMService:
         max_retries = 3
         last_error = None
 
-        actual_model = model_name or DEFAULT_MODEL
+        actual_model = LLMService._resolve_model(model_name)
         provider = LLMService._get_model_provider(model_name)
 
         for attempt in range(max_retries):
@@ -492,10 +511,10 @@ class LLMService:
         logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
         max_retries = 3
         last_error = None
-        
-        actual_model = model_name or DEFAULT_MODEL
+
+        actual_model = LLMService._resolve_model(model_name)
         provider = LLMService._get_model_provider(model_name)
-        
+
         logger.info(f"Generating multimodal content with {len(image_paths)} image(s) using {provider} provider")
         
         for attempt in range(max_retries):
@@ -727,9 +746,9 @@ class LLMService:
         if image_parts:
             print(f"🎨 Using multimodal generation with {len(image_parts)} images")
             
-            actual_model = model_name or DEFAULT_MODEL
+            actual_model = LLMService._resolve_model(model_name)
             provider = LLMService._get_model_provider(model_name)
-            
+
             max_retries = 3
             last_error = None
             
diff --git a/backend/app/services/persona_modification_service.py b/backend/app/services/persona_modification_service.py
index aa7d3cfa..1d5f8f01 100755
--- a/backend/app/services/persona_modification_service.py
+++ b/backend/app/services/persona_modification_service.py
@@ -188,8 +188,8 @@ class PersonaModificationService:
                         prompt=final_prompt,
                         temperature=0.3,  # Lower temperature for consistent modifications
                         model_name=llm_model,
-                        reasoning_effort=reasoning_effort if llm_model == 'gpt-5.2' else None,
-                        verbosity=verbosity if llm_model == 'gpt-5.2' else None
+                        reasoning_effort=reasoning_effort if llm_model in ('gpt-5', 'gpt-5.2') else None,
+                        verbosity=verbosity if llm_model in ('gpt-5', 'gpt-5.2') else None
                     )
                     
                     # Parse JSON response