Users asked for a much warmer, conversational model, and that’s precisely what OpenAI has achieved with GPT-5.1, which entails 8 unique chat tones.
“Cheaper,” “smarter,” and “faster” are the three labels tech companies glue onto their latest AI models. That’s what gets the attention of both users and the market, plagued by concerns.
The development costs, reasoning capabilities, efficiency, and performance speed. These facets were always under the spotlight.
OpenAI’s GPT-5 is warmer. And not just that. It comes with multiple personality options, such as nerdy, quirky, candid, and friendly.
But there was another inherent dilemma that was overshadowed- the AI model’s response and communication skills. Hallucinations aside, users observed that each AI chatbot (ironically) sounded just like a machine: detached, cold, and logically on point.
However, somewhere we’ve attached the chatbots a persona. The demand for AI to present more like a collaborative partnership and less like an assistant has transformed expectations.
It needs to have a more human touch. Or it needs to be more human? One might say it’s the same. But basically, it’s not. The actual question here is: why do we need AI to be more human?
Could it be for catering to different industries? Extend ChatGPT’s market penetration?
This rationale stems from the AI chatbot’s function as a therapist (or something equivalent). These models have been under a negative spotlight, with many hailing them as their go-to cost-efficient therapist to tackle mental health problems.
But hopefully, OpenAI isn’t directing the new GPT-5.1 towards this direction. And a more positive one- for research and knowledge expansion. After all this, the upgraded model is more intelligent and way better at following instructions.
And ChatGPT is “more enjoyable to talk to” with two new variants: GPT-5.1 Instant and GPT-5.1 Thinking. And in the future, the AI giant also plans to expand its personality presets.
“With more than 800 million people using ChatGPT, we’re well past the point of one-size-fits-all,” writes OpenAI’s CEO of Applications, Fidji Simo, in a Substack post.
