OpenAI released a mini-update to its model, releasing GPT-5.1 to the public. According to the company, the update will make its chatbot, ChatGPT, “smarter” and “more conversational”, introducing new styles of communication and promising an improved ability to follow instructions. CEO Sam Altman called it “a nice upgrade”.
There are two versions of GPT-5.1 that will be made available to users, starting with paid ChatGPT users who will receive the update starting today. There’s GPT-5.1 Instant, which the company says will be its most-used model and promises it’s “now hotter, more intelligent, and better at following your instructions.” In a blog post, the company claimed that feedback from testing showed that people were surprised by its “playfulness”.
The company is also deploying its advanced reasoning model, GPT-5.1 Thinking, which will reportedly provide responses that are “easier and faster to understand on simple tasks, more stable on complex tasks.” The company claims it will burn fewer tokens on basic queries and, when it gets into the weeds with more challenging prompts, it will provide the user with “clearer, less jargon and less undefined terms” responses. The company also said that its Thinking Mode will also be “warmer and more powerful”.
Any model will be subject to greater customization, allowing users to change the tone of the chatbot. With the release of GPT-5.1, OpenAI is also introducing new conversation styles called Professional, Candid, and Quirky – which join the existing styles Default, Friendly (formerly Listener), Skillful (formerly Robot), Cynical (formerly Cynic), and Nerdy (formerly Nerd). Those modes will be available in other models as well. The company says it’s also experimenting with more granular control over ChatGPT’s personality in the future, beyond the preset modes that can be adjusted in Personalization settings.
OpenAI suggests that GPT-5.1 is part of a larger planned change to a more personalized experience with ChatGPT. “Today’s GPT‑5.1 update and new customization options are a step toward a ChatGPT that feels like it’s a good fit for you – smarter, more enjoyable to talk to, and more suited to your preferences. Moving forward, we’ll continue to improve on these dimensions – there’s more to come,” it says.
This takes a look at how OpenAI executives have been positioning ChatGPT in recent weeks. Altman has now decided to highlight generating erotica as an example of how the company is giving users more control over their Chatbot experience, and OpenAI CFO Sarah Fryer recently pointed to personalization as the next big frontier in chatbot technology.