OpenAI GPT-5.1 Officially Released: A Gentler, Smarter Tone of Responses — an Upgrade Experience Beyond GPT-4o
After the release of OpenAI GPT-5, many users asked for the GPT-4o model to return because it felt more human and warm. Now, OpenAI has officially launched the GPT-5.1 model family. These new versions respond in a gentler, smarter tone, follow user instructions better, and perfectly resolve the earlier issues.
GPT-5.1 includes two main models:
- GPT-5.1 Instant: As the most popular general-purpose model, it is now warmer and smarter, responds to your instructions better, and is ideal for daily chats and quick queries.
- GPT-5.1 Thinking: A model focused on advanced reasoning — faster on simple tasks, with greater persistence and deeper understanding on complex tasks.
At present, GPT-5.1 Pro has not yet been launched, but it is expected to roll out to certain regions soon. Meanwhile, GPT-5 and GPT-4o have been moved to the legacy models category, and users can select these historical versions in settings to ensure compatibility.
Looking back at GPT-5's initial launch in August 2025, although performance improved across the board, the response style became rather cold and lacking in humanity, prompting users worldwide to call for the return of classic models like GPT-4o and o3. In the end, OpenAI introduced the "legacy models" option, letting users freely switch back to historical versions.
GPT-5 vs GPT-5.1 Response Comparison: More Compliant with Instructions, More Human
The original GPT-5 often ignored instructions when users asked for concise replies, outputting verbose content. GPT-5.1 Instant, by contrast, strictly follows instructions, responds more briefly, and carries a warm, human touch that improves the interactive experience.
In addition, a new "Personalization" feature has been added to ChatGPT settings: Click avatar -> Settings -> Personalization, where users can adjust the response style and tone to their preferences for a customized chat experience.
Who Can Try GPT-5.1 First? Paid Subscribers Get the Upgrade Early
Starting November 12, 2025, OpenAI first pushed GPT-5.1 to paid users (Pro, Plus, Go, Business), then expanded to free and registered users. Business members currently enjoy an official discount — it can be activated for as little as a two-digit monthly fee, making it well worth a try.
❝ Website for upgrading ChatGPT Plus and Business from China: https://gptplus.org.cn
It's worth noting that GPT-5 will be kept for three months in the legacy models dropdown menu for paid ChatGPT subscribers, after which these older models may be removed. We recommend trying the new GPT-5.1 as soon as possible to enjoy a smarter, gentler AI interaction.