OpenAI Launches GPT-5.1 With Personality Controls
OpenAI has officially launched GPT-5.1, the latest evolution of its flagship language model, aimed at making ChatGPT more human-like, adaptive, and emotionally intelligent. The update, which began rolling out to paid users on November 12, 2025, introduces two upgraded variants — GPT-5.1 Instant and GPT-5.1 Thinking — alongside a suite of new personality customization features.
This release marks a significant comeback for OpenAI after the mixed reception of the original GPT-5 in August, which many users described as “colder” and “too mechanical.” The new version attempts to merge advanced reasoning power with a warmer, more conversational tone that feels distinctly alive.
A Smarter, More Adaptive GPT
The key upgrade in GPT-5.1 is its adaptive reasoning system, designed to let the model decide when to “think before responding.” In practical terms, GPT-5.1 Instant now pauses briefly on complex queries — such as advanced math, coding logic, or multi-step instructions — to plan a better, more accurate answer.
According to OpenAI, this new reasoning layer dramatically improves performance on benchmark tests like AIME 2025 (math) and Codeforces (competitive programming). Internal evaluations show that GPT-5.1 Instant performs faster while still maintaining context accuracy — a balance the previous GPT-5 often struggled to achieve.
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For everyday users, this translates into fewer mistakes, faster responses, and smarter context awareness. When asked to perform specific tasks such as “write exactly six words,” GPT-5.1 consistently delivers precise outputs — something GPT-5 frequently failed to do.
The second variant, GPT-5.1 Thinking, takes this a step further. It adjusts its processing time based on the complexity of a task. Simple queries are answered almost instantly, while multi-layered reasoning tasks — like code debugging or legal writing — receive more deliberate attention. The result is an AI that feels both responsive and thoughtful.
OpenAI says GPT-5.1 Thinking is especially effective for research, programming, and professional workflows, where clarity and consistency matter more than speed. Users testing the model report “noticeably clearer explanations,” with fewer undefined terms and jargon — a sign that OpenAI is prioritizing accessibility alongside intelligence.
A Response to User Backlash
The launch of GPT-5.1 also serves as OpenAI’s response to the backlash that followed GPT-5’s debut three months ago. Many long-time ChatGPT users criticized the earlier version for being too detached and robotic, particularly after OpenAI abruptly retired the widely loved GPT-4o model.
At the time, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman admitted that removing older models without warning was “a mistake,” acknowledging that users had developed “emotional attachments” to certain personalities and conversational styles.
With GPT-5.1, OpenAI appears to have listened. GPT-5.1 Instant is described as “warmer by default and more conversational,” with early testers saying it “surprises people with playfulness while staying useful.” This balance of intelligence and empathy — or IQ and EQ — is exactly what many users had been asking for.
The rollout strategy is also different this time. Instead of instantly retiring previous models, OpenAI will keep legacy GPT-5 versions accessible for at least three months, ensuring a smoother transition for developers and users who rely on specific model behaviors.
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Personality Customization and Tone Control
Perhaps the most striking new feature in GPT-5.1 is the expanded personality control system. OpenAI now offers six new personality presets — Default, Professional, Friendly, Candid, Quirky, and Efficient — joining the existing Nerdy and Cynical modes.
These options allow users to fine-tune how ChatGPT sounds, behaves, and emotionally responds. For example:
- Professional: Polished, formal, and precise — ideal for reports or presentations.
- Friendly: More casual, empathetic, and expressive — great for personal chats or support roles.
- Quirky: Slightly humorous and creative, maintaining factual accuracy while adding personality.
In addition, users can manually adjust granular settings such as conciseness, warmth, and emoji frequency. For instance, a user can make the model more concise and neutral for technical writing or more expressive and casual for social media creation.
OpenAI is also testing proactive tone adjustment, where ChatGPT might suggest: “Would you like me to sound more formal?” — making it easier for users to switch between modes without manual commands.
Fidji Simo, OpenAI’s CEO of Applications, said:
“We believe GPT-5.1 finally bridges the gap between intelligence and empathy. But a single default setting can’t serve everyone — personality flexibility is the next frontier in user-AI interaction.”
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Accessibility and Rollout
The GPT-5.1 upgrade is rolling out first to paid users on the Pro, Plus, Go, and Business plans, with free users expected to gain access in the coming weeks. Both GPT-5.1 Instant and GPT-5.1 Thinking will also be available via the OpenAI API later this week.
Developers can start using gpt-5.1-chat-latest as the model endpoint, allowing seamless integration into custom apps and workflows.
This version marks a shift in OpenAI’s approach — from simply building more capable AI to building more human AI. GPT-5.1 isn’t just a smarter model; it’s one that feels more aware, intentional, and emotionally attuned to the person behind the screen.
With GPT-5.1, OpenAI is signaling a new phase in the AI race — one focused not only on reasoning and intelligence but also on connection and personalization.
By combining adaptive reasoning, emotional warmth, and customizable personalities, OpenAI seems to have addressed its biggest criticism: that ChatGPT had lost its “human touch.”
Now, GPT-5.1 doesn’t just answer your questions — it learns how you want to be answered.
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