OpenAI launches GPT-5.1, featuring customizable personality presets and adaptive reasoning, addressing user concerns following GPT -5's release. Discover the latest features being rolled out to ChatGPT users.
OpenAI has launched GPT-5.1, introducing two enhanced models designed to make ChatGPT more conversational and intelligent while giving users unprecedented control over the AI's personality. The update, which began rolling out to paid subscribers on November 12, marks a significant pivot following the rocky reception of the original GPT-5 release.
The update brings GPT-5.1 Instant and GPT-5.1 Thinking—both engineered to address the complaints that plagued GPT-5's August debut. According to OpenAI, GPT-5.1 Instant is "warmer by default and more conversational," with early testers noting it "often surprises people with its playfulness while remaining clear and useful."
The new Instant model introduces adaptive reasoning, enabling it to determine when to pause and think through challenging questions before responding. This enhancement has yielded significant improvements on mathematical and coding benchmarks, including AIME 2025 and Codeforces. The model also demonstrates better instruction-following capabilities—in examples provided by OpenAI, GPT-5.1 successfully responds in exactly six words when requested, a test that tripped up its predecessor.
Meanwhile, GPT-5.1 Thinking adjusts its processing time based on task complexity, spending more computational resources on difficult problems while responding rapidly to straightforward queries. OpenAI claims the model now provides clearer explanations "with less jargon and fewer undefined terms," making technical tasks more accessible to general users.
The launch comes three months after OpenAI's GPT-5 release sparked widespread user backlash. Critics decried the model's "colder" tone and OpenAI's abrupt discontinuation of beloved legacy models, such as GPT-4. The controversy prompted an unusual public acknowledgment from CEO Sam Altman, who admitted that removing GPT-4o "was a mistake" and that the company had underestimated users' "emotional attachment" to specific models. This time, OpenAI is taking a more cautious approach. Legacy GPT-5 models will remain available for a three-month transition period, allowing users to continue using them.
The most striking feature of the GPT-5.1 update is the expanded personalization options. OpenAI has introduced six new personality presets: Default, Professional, Friendly, Candid, Quirky, and Efficient, which join the existing options of Nerdy and Cynical. Users can also fine-tune granular controls, including response conciseness, warmth, and even emoji frequency.
"We believe many users will find that GPT-5.1 excels at integrating IQ and EQ, but a single default setting cannot accommodate everyone's preferences," said Fidji Simo, OpenAI's CEO of Applications.
The company is also testing features that would allow ChatGPT to proactively suggest tone adjustments during conversations—potentially enabling the AI to recognize when a more formal or casual approach might be appropriate.
The rollout begins with paid users on Pro, Plus, Go, and Business plans, with free users gaining access over the coming days. Both models will be available through OpenAI's API later this week, with GPT-5.1 Instant accessible via the model string.
The GPT-5.1 release represents more than just technical improvements; it signals OpenAI's recognition that user experience extends beyond raw capability. By offering personality controls and honoring user attachment to familiar models, the company is embracing a more user-centric development philosophy. Whether these changes will satisfy users who felt alienated by the GPT-5 rollout remains to be seen. But with its combination of enhanced reasoning, improved accessibility, and customizable personality, GPT-5.1 represents OpenAI's attempt to deliver both the intelligence and emotional resonance.
As artificial intelligence becomes more deeply woven into daily workflows and personal interactions, the ability to customize an AI's personality may prove just as important as its problem-solving capabilities.
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Luke is a technical market researcher with a deep passion for analyzing emerging technologies and their market impact. With a keen eye for data and trends, Luke provides valuable insights that help shape strategic decisions and product innovations. His expertise lies in evaluating industry developments and uncovering key opportunities in the ever-evolving tech landscape.