OpenAI, a leading artificial intelligence lab, is introducing GPT-5.1, a new update to its flagship model. Often referred to as an “upgrade” to GPT-5, OpenAI claims this version strives to provide smarter and more enjoyable interactions in ChatGPT. By offering improved intelligence and adherence to instructions, GPT-5.1 aims to enhance the user experience significantly.
The update brings with it two models – GPT-5.1 Instant and GPT-5.1 Thinking. As per OpenAI, the Instant model is not only warmer and more intelligent but also excels at following user instructions more accurately. On the other hand, the Thinking model has been engineered to be easier to understand and perform well in both simple tasks and complex ones. The goal is to automatically match user queries with the model best equipped to handle them. The new models will be integrated on the ChatGPT platform starting this week, with the older GPT-5 models staying accessible for the upcoming three months on the legacy models dropdown menu.
The introduction of GPT-5.1 also brings a broader set of personality presets to contour the conversational style of the models. It implies that users will now have more choices, with options including Default, Professional, Friendly, Candid, Quirky, Efficient, Nerdy, and Cynical. The company also plans to roll out an experiment that will allow users to fine-tune ChatGPT’s style directly from the settings, expected to be accessible to a selected number of users soon.
GPT adoption has demonstrated significant uptake across the globe with over 800 million people actively using it, making it clear that a one-size-fits-all solution was proving to be limiting, as noted by Fidji Simo, CEO of Applications at OpenAI.
But all hasn’t been smooth sailing. While OpenAI CEO, Sam Altman, had high expectations from GPT-5, the model failed to live up to the hype and resulted in user dissatisfaction when it became the default model for ChatGPT. This brought so much pressure that OpenAI had to bring back GPT-4o as an alternate option.
After GPT-5 fell short of expectations, Microsoft, OpenAI’s strategic AI partner, started exploring rival models from Anthropic. Anthropic’s models are now being used to power various Microsoft tools, such as Copilot Researcher, GitHub Copilot, Copilot Studio, and the new Office Agent, which produces Word and PowerPoint documents from Microsoft’s Copilot chat interface.
The announcement of GPT-5.1 follows closely on the heels of OpenAI’s launch of its AI-powered web browser, ChatGPT Atlas. The browser features an “agent mode”, a tool currently available only to ChatGPT Plus and Pro users, which performs actions in the browser on the user’s behalf, akin to the company’s existing Operator tool.
As AI continues to evolve rapidly, the introduction of GPT-5.1 signals OpenAI’s ongoing resolution to bring more sophistication and user satisfaction to the AI landscape. How well this new version stands up to user expectations and industry standards remains to be seen.
