OpenAI are uncharacteristically not posting any benchmarks on their launch page, simply describing both models as «more capable and useful,» and «more intelligent.»
Both models are also supposed to be «warmer and more emphatic.»
People want friendly bots
— We heard clearly from users that great AI should not only be smart, but also enjoyable to talk to, OpenAI writes.
GPT-5.1 in ChatGPT is rolling out to all users this week.
It’s smarter, more reliable, and a lot more conversational.https://t.co/SA1Q1GPyxV
— OpenAI (@OpenAI) November 12, 2025
GPT-5.1 Instant is supposed to be the better conversationalist, is better at following instructions, and it can now decide on its own when to think/reason before responding to a query.
GPT-5.1 Thinking is meant to be «more efficient and easier to understand.» It now spends less time thinking over small problems, and longer on the more «challenging» ones.
Rolling in a matter of days
Along with the new models come three new personality settings: Professional, Candid, and Quirky.
The rollout is expected to take a couple of days, and should apply to free and logged out users, as well. Edu users will get a seven-day grace period before defaulting to GPT-5.1.
OpenAI also says it will roll out in the API «later this week.»
The developers will also be holding a Reddit AMA on r/OpenAI at 14:00 hours pacific time on November 13th.
Read more: OpenAI’s launch page, writeups on The Register, Ars Technica and The Verge.