OpenAI has released GPT‑5.1, the latest upgrade to its flagship language model, introducing a new level of personalization that allows users to shape how their AI communicates. The update, announced on November 12, 2025, is currently being rolled out to paid subscribers before expanding to free users and enterprise customers.
Key Takeaways
- GPT‑5.1 allows users to choose how their AI speaks.
- Instant for speed and casual use, thinking for deeper reasoning and technical clarity.
- The AI now decides when to provide quick answers versus a more detailed analysis.
- AI is moving from robotic responses to empathetic, human‑like conversation.
- Clearer explanations and adaptive intelligence make GPT‑5.1 more useful for professional tasks.
- OpenAI is carefully phasing in GPT‑5.1, with legacy models available for 3 months.
The most notable change in GPT‑5.1 is the ability to customize the AI’s personality. Users can now select from preset styles such as Friendly, Efficient, Professional, Quirky, and Candid, or fine‑tune elements like warmth, conciseness, and emoji use. Unlike previous versions, these adjustments apply immediately across all conversations, making the AI feel more consistent and tailored to individual preferences.
This move reflects a broader trend in artificial intelligence: shifting from purely functional tools to adaptive companions. OpenAI is positioning GPT‑5.1 not just as a productivity engine but also as a conversational partner that can fit different contexts from casual chats to professional work.
GPT‑5.1 comes in two variants. GPT‑5.1 Instant, which is designed for speed and everyday use, offering warmer, more conversational responses while maintaining accuracy. It employs “adaptive reasoning,” meaning it can decide when to provide quick answers and when to take more time for complex queries.
And GPT‑5.1 Thinking, which is built for deeper reasoning. It dynamically adjusts its response time depending on task complexity and provides more precise, jargon‑free explanations. This model is particularly suited for technical fields, where precision and clarity are critical.
Performance benchmarks support these claims. On the AIME 2025 math competition dataset, GPT‑5.1 Instant showed measurable improvements over GPT‑5, while on Codeforces programming challenges, GPT‑5.1 Thinking demonstrated stronger problem‑solving ability.
OpenAI highlighted scenarios where GPT‑5.1’s upgrades make a difference. For stress management, GPT‑5.1 Instant offers empathetic, actionable advice, such as grounding techniques or quick yoga moves. For technical explanations, GPT‑5.1 Thinking breaks down complex concepts like baseball statistics (BABIP and wRC+) into plain language, making them accessible to non‑experts.
Even in everyday mishaps, such as spilling coffee during a meeting, GPT‑5.1 responds with empathy, reframing the situation as resilience rather than embarrassment. These examples illustrate how the model’s warmer tone and adaptive reasoning can make interactions feel more human.
