OpenAI is rolling out an update to its flagship AI chatbot, ChatGPT, aiming to address user criticisms and improve conversational experiences. The new models, GPT-5.1 Instant and GPT-5.1 Thinking, replace the previously released but underwhelming GPT-5.
This tweak comes just months after the highly anticipated launch of GPT-5 in August, which failed to live up to user expectations. Many found the improvements incremental, leading to dissatisfaction with its default status in ChatGPT. OpenAI eventually yielded to pressure and reinstated GPT-4 as an alternative option.
GPT-5.1 Instant focuses on being “warmer, more intelligent,” and better at following instructions. Meanwhile, GPT-5.1 Thinking prioritizes speed on simple tasks, persistence on complex ones, and improved clarity for users.
OpenAI claims that most queries will be automatically routed to the model best suited for the task. Both new models will become available in ChatGPT this week, with the older GPT-5 models remaining accessible via a legacy menu for three months before disappearing entirely.
The update also introduces an expanded range of personality presets for ChatGPT. Users can now choose from “Default,” “Professional,” “Friendly,” “Candid,” “Quirky,” “Efficient,” “Nerdy,” and “Cynical” to tailor the chatbot’s conversational tone. OpenAI is also experimenting with new ways to fine-tune ChatGPT’s style directly through user settings, rolling this feature out to select users this week.
Fidji Simo, OpenAI’s CEO of Applications, emphasized the need for personalization in a Wednesday Substack post: “With more than 800 million people using ChatGPT, we’re well past the point of one-size-fits-all.”
This push towards personalization comes as Microsoft, OpenAI’s strategic partner, reportedly explores alternative AI models from Anthropic. While OpenAI remains a key player, Anthropic’s models are increasingly powering various Microsoft products like Copilot Researcher and GitHub Copilot.
Despite these developments, the release of GPT-5.1 is a clear indication that OpenAI continues to refine and improve ChatGPT, seeking to regain user trust after the lukewarm reception of its previous major update.
