OpenAI's GPT-5.1 Arrives, 'More Conversational' Upgrade

OpenAI just released GPT-5.1, an immediate update to the flagship model it introduced only a few months ago in August. The company calls this more than a maintenance patch, marketing the model as an upgrade designed to make ChatGPT "smarter and more enjoyable to talk to."

The new release features two distinct models: GPT-5.1 Instant and GPT-5.1 Thinking. OpenAI details Instant as "warmer, more intelligent, and better at following your instructions" than its predecessor. The Thinking model, meanwhile, is described as "now easier to understand and faster on simple tasks, and more persistent on complex ones."

The system automatically matches user queries to the model it believes can provide the best response.

Rollout begins this week for ChatGPT users. The two new models will supplant the prior generation, though users have a brief grace period: the old GPT-5 models will remain accessible for three months via the ChatGPT legacy models dropdown menu before being retired.

The renewed focus on the conversational experience extends to user controls. OpenAI expanded its personality presets, allowing users to select a default conversational tone. The total list of options now includes Default, Professional, Friendly, Candid, Quirky, Efficient, Nerdy, and Cynical.

OpenAI also announced an upcoming user-facing "experiment for new ways to fine-tune ChatGPT style directly from settings," which will become available to some users this week.

The GPT-5.1 launch carries the weight of a recent fumble. Though OpenAI CEO Sam Altman generated significant buzz around the August debut of GPT-5, the initial release ultimately “failed the hype test.”

Many ChatGPT users were left unimpressed by the perceived minor improvements. The widespread frustration forced OpenAI to “bring back GPT-4o as an option” just a day after GPT-5 became the default for the platform.

Can a focus on nuanced conversation truly shift market perception? The consequences of that stumble are already visible in the competitive landscape. Microsoft, a partner to OpenAI, has increased its exploration of rival models from Anthropic. These competing models now power critical Microsoft tools, including Copilot Researcher, GitHub Copilot, Copilot Studio, and a new Office Agent that produces Word and PowerPoint documents directly from Microsoft’s Copilot chat interface.

The timing of this announcement places the update within OpenAI's recent product strategy. The GPT-5.1 release follows closely on the heels of the launch of ChatGPT Atlas, OpenAI's new AI-powered web browser. Atlas features an “agent mode,” currently exclusive to ChatGPT Plus and Pro users, that allows the tool to take actions in the browser on a user’s behalf. This suggests the new, enhanced conversational models are intended to serve as the engine for a new generation of active, browsing-capable AI tools.