OpenAI GPT-5.1 Turns ChatGPT Into a More Personal, Mode-Aware AI Assistant

OpenAI has quietly but decisively pushed its flagship chatbot into a new phase with the release of GPT-5.1, a model that doesn’t just promise better answers but far more personal conversations. Building on the earlier GPT-5 release, GPT-5.1 arrives in two main flavors: Instant and Thinking. Both are designed to feel less like tools and more like highly adaptable collaborators that can mirror the way you prefer to talk, write, and work.

GPT-5.1 Instant is positioned as the fast, responsive side of the duo.

OpenAI describes it as warmer, more intelligent, and better at following your instructions, which in practice means smoother small talk, clearer explanations, and fewer moments where you have to repeat yourself. Thinking mode, on the other hand, is tuned for heavier lifting. It is easier to follow, more persistent on complex tasks, and better at sticking with long chains of reasoning without losing context, while still remaining quick on simple prompts.

One of the most noticeable upgrades in GPT-5.1 is the new conversational tone control. Instead of endlessly re-prompting the model with lines like “be more friendly” or “use a professional tone,” users can now adjust ChatGPT’s style directly in the settings. On top of that, GPT-5.1 introduces eight ready-made tone presets: Default, Professional, Friendly, Candid, Quirky, Efficient, Nerdy, and Cynical. These tones can dramatically change how responses feel, turning the same underlying intelligence into either a straight-laced productivity assistant, a chatty companion, or even a dry, sarcastic commentator.

This personalization layer matters because it lets people match the AI to their context. A manager might rely on the Professional or Efficient presets during the workday and then switch to Friendly or Quirky for brainstorming or casual chats. Developers and power users might gravitate toward Nerdy when they want deeply technical explanations. Even the Cynical mode has a place for those who prefer a more skeptical, commentary-style take on information rather than polished corporate optimism.

From an availability standpoint, GPT-5.1 Instant and Thinking are already rolling out to paying users on the Pro, Plus, Go, and Business plans. OpenAI says that those on the free tier will start seeing the new model in their accounts in the coming days, and once the rollout is complete, GPT-5.1 is expected to become the default choice for essentially all interactions. In practice, that means the typical ChatGPT experience will gradually shift toward these smarter, more configurable behaviors, even for casual users.

Overall, GPT-5.1 is less about flashy new tricks and more about control, reliability, and personality. By letting people decide how the AI should sound and by offering specialized modes for speed or deep thinking, OpenAI is nudging chatbots closer to the idea of a genuinely tailored digital assistant – one that can adapt not only to what you ask, but to how you like to be answered.