Ever felt frustrated with ChatGPT’s tone or the way it sometimes just doesn’t get your vibe? That may soon change. OpenAI has announced GPT-5.1, its latest generation of AI models designed to make ChatGPT more intuitive, expressive, and context-aware.
The update introduces two upgraded variants — GPT-5.1 Instant and GPT-5.1 Thinking, offering improvements in reasoning, responsiveness, and conversational warmth. OpenAI describes GPT-5.1 Instant as “warmer” and more naturally conversational, while GPT-5.1 Thinking is positioned as the company’s advanced reasoning model, capable of handling complex prompts with greater depth and clarity.
OpenAI is also enhancing ChatGPT's personality settings, allowing users to adjust the chatbot's tone and responses according to a wider array of predefined styles. The company highlighted that individuals favor various chat styles depending on the situation, and it is now providing more options to personalize that interaction.
GPT-5.1 Instant is built as the everyday model for most users. According to OpenAI, it offers smoother conversational flow, responds more effectively to instructions, and can determine when to “think before answering” depending on the complexity of a query. The concept is straightforward: provide quick responses for simple questions, and take a more measured approach for more complex ones.
GPT-5.1 Thinking is crafted to handle more intricate reasoning tasks, enhancing the efficiency of problem analysis. It quickly addresses simple questions and only takes extra time when required. Furthermore, this model is said to provide clearer and more concise explanations, utilizing less technical jargon than previous versions.
One of the standout updates in GPT-5.1 is OpenAI’s expanded set of ChatGPT personality presets, which give users greater control over how the AI responds. From professional and formal tones to playful and quirky styles, there are now eight distinct personalities to choose from, allowing conversations to feel more natural and tailored to each user’s preference. Here are the 8 Personalities:
Friendly (formerly Listener)
Default
Efficient (formerly Robot)
Professional (New)
Candid (New)
Quirky (New)
Cynical (formerly Cynic)
Nerdy (formerly Nerd)
Starting today, GPT-5.1 is being released to Pro, Plus, Go, and Business users. Free and logged-out users will gain access in the coming days. Enterprise and Education clients will have a seven-day early-access option before the update becomes standard.
The new ChatGPT personality presets with updated tone and style are also starting to roll out today. OpenAI mentioned that the rollout is gradual, meaning availability might differ among users. Additionally, the company confirmed that GPT-5 Pro will soon be upgraded to GPT-5.1 Pro.
