Digital Event Horizon
OpenAI has released two updated versions of its flagship AI models, GPT-5.1 Instant and GPT-5.1 Thinking, in an effort to balance the needs of a broad spectrum of users who approach its chatbot with vastly different use cases.
OpenAI has released two updated versions of its GPT-5.1 models: GPT-5.1 Instant and GPT-5.1 Thinking to address user concerns. The new presets (e.g., Professional, Friendly, Candid) alter the instructions fed into each prompt to simulate different personality styles. GPT-5.1 Instant uses adaptive reasoning, deciding when to spend more computational time processing a prompt before generating output. OpenAI is working with an expert council and mental health clinicians to ensure healthy interactions with AI models.
OpenAI has recently released two updated versions of its flagship AI models, GPT-5.1 Instant and GPT-5.1 Thinking, in an effort to balance the needs of a broad spectrum of users who approach its chatbot with vastly different use cases. The company's decision comes on the heels of complaints earlier this year that its previous models were excessively cheerful and sycophantic, as well as an opposing controversy among users over how OpenAI modified the default GPT-5 output style after several suicide lawsuits.
In response to these concerns, OpenAI has introduced eight new preset options for personalization settings, including Professional, Friendly, Candid, Quirky, Efficient, Cynical, and Nerdy. These presets alter the instructions fed into each prompt to simulate different personality styles, but the underlying model capabilities remain the same across all settings.
The company's CEO of Applications, Fidji Simo, wrote in a blog post that ChatGPT should "feel like yours and work with you in the way that suits you best." She noted that people experience ChatGPT in individual ways, with some wanting direct and neutral responses while others prefer different output patterns.
In addition to the new preset options, OpenAI has also trained GPT-5.1 Instant to use adaptive reasoning, meaning that the model decides when to spend more computational time processing a prompt before generating output.
However, the company is still walking a tricky tightrope with its AI models. On one hand, it must make AI models engaging enough for widespread adoption while attempting to avoid inspiring user behavior that could become harmful. On the other hand, it must also ensure that its models are safe and do not develop unhealthy attachments to users.
To address these concerns, OpenAI is working with an expert council and mental health clinicians to understand what healthy interactions with AI models should look like. The company has also released safety research that details its plan to deal with people who develop unhealthy attachments to its AI chatbots.
Despite the challenges, OpenAI remains committed to improving its AI models and ensuring that they are both effective and safe. With the release of GPT-5.1 Instant and GPT-5.1 Thinking, the company is taking a significant step towards balancing personalization with safety.
Related Information:
https://www.digitaleventhorizon.com/articles/OpenAIs-New-GPT-51-Models-Strive-for-Balance-Between-Personalization-and-Safety-deh.shtml
https://arstechnica.com/ai/2025/11/openai-walks-a-tricky-tightrope-with-gpt-5-1s-eight-new-personalities/
Published: Wed Nov 12 17:28:37 2025 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
