OpenAI has officially launched ChatGPT 5.1, marking the first major upgrade to its flagship GPT-5 series. Unveiled on November 13, 2025, the new model promises a warmer, more human-like conversational experience, improved instruction following, and greater adaptability for both everyday and complex tasks.
Key features of ChatGPT 5.1
ChatGPT 5.1 comes in two main variants: Instant and Thinking.
- GPT-5.1 Instant is optimized for fast, warm, and intelligent conversations, making everyday interactions more natural and engaging.
- GPT-5.1 Thinking is built for complex reasoning, offering clearer, more step-by-step explanations and robust performance on challenging prompts.
OpenAI also introduced enhanced personalization, including eight new personality presets like:
- Friendly
- Professional
- Candid
- Quirky
- Nerdy
- Cynical
- Efficient
Users can now tailor the tone and style of responses to match their preferences in real time across all chats.
Smarter and more customizable
The update significantly improves how ChatGPT follows instructions, reducing misunderstandings and delivering more relevant answers. The adaptive reasoning feature allows the model to decide when to “think” longer for complex queries while remaining snappy for simpler ones.
Additionally, the new version minimizes technical jargon and undefined terms, making responses more accessible and easier to understand for a broader audience.
Availability and rollout
ChatGPT 5.1 is rolling out first to paid users on Pro, Plus, Go, and Business plans. Free and logged-out users will gain access in the coming days. Enterprise and Education plan users have a seven-day early-access toggle, allowing them to try the new models before the general release.
GPT-5 Pro users will also receive an upgrade to GPT-5.1 Pro in the near future. Legacy GPT-5 will remain available in the dropdown for paid subscribers for at least three months.
Conclusion
With ChatGPT 5.1, OpenAI continues to refine the conversational AI experience, focusing on warmth, clarity, and precision. The new model is designed to handle a wider range of tasks more naturally, making it a powerful tool for both everyday users and professionals.
