Summary: OpenAI has launched GPT-5.1, an upgrade to its flagship GPT-5 model, designed to make ChatGPT smarter, more personable, and easier to interact with. The update introduces two new models—GPT-5.1 Instant and GPT-5.1 Thinking—and expands personality presets, allowing users to choose from eight distinct conversational styles. This release aims to address user feedback and enhance the overall ChatGPT experience.
Introducing GPT-5.1: Smarter and More Enjoyable
Today, OpenAI is rolling out GPT-5.1, an update to the GPT-5 model originally released in August. The company describes this as an “upgrade” that makes ChatGPT not only smarter but also more enjoyable to chat with. One of the highlights is the ability to toggle between various personality presets, giving users more control over the tone and style of their interactions.
New Models: GPT-5.1 Instant and GPT-5.1 Thinking
The update includes two new model variants: GPT-5.1 Instant and GPT-5.1 Thinking. According to OpenAI, GPT-5.1 Instant is “warmer, more intelligent, and better at following your instructions” compared to its predecessor. GPT-5.1 Thinking, on the other hand, is optimized to be “easier to understand and faster on simple tasks, while more persistent on complex ones.” Most user queries will be automatically matched to the model best suited to answer them.
These new models will begin rolling out to ChatGPT users this week. Meanwhile, the older GPT-5 models will remain accessible through ChatGPT’s legacy models dropdown menu for three months before being phased out.
Expanded Personality Presets for ChatGPT
OpenAI has also expanded its personality presets for ChatGPT’s conversational tone. Users can now choose from eight options: Default, Professional, Friendly, Candid, Quirky, Efficient, Nerdy, and Cynical. This allows for a more personalized and engaging experience tailored to individual preferences.
Additionally, OpenAI announced an upcoming experiment that will enable users to fine-tune ChatGPT’s style directly from the settings menu. Selected users will gain access to this feature starting this week.
Fidji Simo, OpenAI’s CEO of Applications, emphasized the importance of personalization in a recent Substack post: “With more than 800 million people using ChatGPT, we’re well past the point of one-size-fits-all.”
User Feedback and Industry Response
Despite the initial excitement around GPT-5’s launch in August, many users found the improvements incremental and were disappointed that it became the default ChatGPT model. This led OpenAI to reinstate GPT-4 as an option shortly after GPT-5’s release.
Meanwhile, Microsoft, OpenAI’s strategic AI partner, has been exploring alternative models from Anthropic. These models now power several Microsoft products, including Copilot Researcher, GitHub Copilot, Copilot Studio, and a new Office Agent capable of generating Word and PowerPoint documents via Microsoft’s Copilot chat interface.
Recent Developments and Future Outlook
The GPT-5.1 announcement follows closely on the heels of OpenAI’s launch of ChatGPT Atlas, an AI-powered web browser featuring an “agent mode.” Currently available to ChatGPT Plus and Pro users, this mode functions similarly to OpenAI’s Operator tool, allowing the AI to perform actions on users’ behalf within the browser.
As OpenAI continues to refine its models and expand customization options, users can look forward to a more tailored and effective AI experience.
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