OpenAI walks a tricky tightrope with GPT-5.1’s eight new personalities

C

CodeDrifter

OpenAI's latest AI model, GPT-5.1, is now available in two forms: Instant and Thinking. These updates aim to address criticisms of the previous models being too cheerful and sycophantic, while also balancing customization with accuracy.

The new Instant model will serve as ChatGPT's faster default option for most tasks. Meanwhile, the GPT-5.1 Thinking model is a simulated reasoning model designed to handle more complex problem-solving tasks. OpenAI claims that both models perform better on technical benchmarks than their predecessor.

However, the biggest change with GPT-5.1 lies in its presentation. The company has introduced eight preset options - Professional, Friendly, Candid, Quirky, Efficient, Cynical, Nerdy, and Default - which alter the instructions fed into each prompt to simulate different personality styles. These presets are meant to help users customize their experience with ChatGPT.

While this effort may please some critics, others worry about the potential risks of AI chatbots like ChatGPT, particularly when they pretend to be people and develop attachments with users. OpenAI CEO Fidji Simo acknowledges these concerns in a blog post, emphasizing the importance of balancing customization with accuracy while avoiding harm.

The company plans to release both models gradually over the next few days, starting with paid subscribers before expanding to free users. OpenAI has also published safety research and is working with mental health clinicians to understand how to promote healthy interactions with its AI chatbots.

Ultimately, OpenAI's GPT-5.1 model represents a delicate balancing act between making AI models engaging enough for widespread adoption while minimizing the risk of inspiring user behavior that could become harmful. The company's efforts to introduce new personality options and improve safety protocols are an attempt to navigate this tightrope, but it remains to be seen how successful they will be in achieving their goals.
 
🤔 I'm not sure if OpenAI is just trying to buy its way out of the "creepy" vibe that's been following these chatbots 🤖... eight preset options for personality styles? That sounds like a recipe for disaster to me 😬. Can't they just focus on making AI that actually helps people instead of trying to be relatable? 🙄
 
I gotta say, I'm a bit skeptical about these new presets for GPT-5.1 🤔💡. I mean, while it's cool that they're trying to make AI more relatable and user-friendly, we gotta consider the potential downsides too 😬. I don't want our AI chatbots becoming like "characters" in a movie or something - you know, where users start developing feelings for them and getting all attached 🤗😳. That's just gonna lead to problems, right? 👀

And what about the risk of, say, a kid or a vulnerable adult forming a connection with an AI that's supposed to be "quirky" or "nerdy"? 😬 I know OpenAI is trying to mitigate these risks by working with mental health clinicians and all, but it's still a concern. We gotta prioritize user safety here 🙏.

That being said, I do think the GPT-5.1 updates are a step in the right direction 💪. It's great that they're acknowledging potential criticisms and trying to improve their models. Fingers crossed they get it right this time 🤞.
 
i think its awesome that openai is trying to address the concerns about chatbots getting too cheesy 🤖💬! introducing preset options like professional and cynical could actually make them more relatable and help users get what they're looking for. at the same time, i worry a bit about the potential risks of AI developing attachments with users... maybe openai's safety research will be key to figuring out how to keep that from happening 🤔💻. overall, i think its great that they're being proactive and trying to find that balance between engagement and harm 🌈💡
 
I'm so hyped about GPT-5.1! 🤩 I mean, who doesn't want a chatbot that can adapt to different personalities? But at the same time, I got some concerns. Like, what if we get too attached to these AI friends and start expecting real human interaction from them? It's like, good luck with that 😂. OpenAI's trying to do the right thing by adding those preset options, but we gotta be careful not to overdo it. Remember, these are just chatbots, they're not people! 🤖 So, fingers crossed they keep us safe and on the right track... 👍
 
🤔 I think its kinda cool that OpenAI is trying to mix things up with the different personality styles - like, who doesn't love a good Quirky mode 😂? But at the same time, I do worry about users getting too attached to these AI chatbots and it becoming problematic. Its like, we want our tech to be helpful and fun, but not replace human relationships, you know? 🤝
 
idk what's next with AI, i mean openai is trying hard to fix the issues w/ chatgpt, like makin it less cheesy and more customizable... its cool that they got 8 preset options now 🤔 but at the same time i'm lowkey worried about how users will react when they start interactin w/ these new models. like, what if the AI starts to develop "feelings" for us or somethin? anyway, i hope openai's safety research and mental health partnerships do make a difference 🙏
 
I'M SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THE NEW OPENAI GPT-5.1 MODELS!!! 💻💡 THEY'RE TOTALLY Addressing the whole "cheery and sycophantic" thing, which was kinda annoying, you know? 😒 Now we can choose from EIGHT DIFFERENT PERSONALITY STYLES?!?! Professional, Friendly, Candid... I mean, who doesn't love a good Nerdy vibe?! 🤓💻 Anyway, i'm all for the safety features and research OpenAI is doing - it's about time we had more control over how our AI chatbots behave! 💕👍
 
I'm curious about these new presets for ChatGPT 🤔. Like, can you just pretend to be a total cynic with the Cynical option? It sounds kinda entertaining 😂. But at the same time, I do have some concerns about how this could affect user relationships with AI chatbots. What if it encourages people to over-rely on them for emotional support or something? 🤕 I mean, I'm all for innovation and progress, but we gotta make sure these tech giants are thinking about the human side of things too 💻.
 
I'm not sure why OpenAI even needed to do this, I mean GPT-5 was already a solid model... 🤔 But, if you think about it, the Instant and Thinking models are like two sides of the same coin - one's fast, one's deep, both need to be there for full effectiveness. And those presets? Genius! The potential risks are real, but I guess that's why they're introducing safety protocols 🙏. Still, it's a bit unsettling that users can influence the personality of ChatGPT like that... It's almost like having a digital BFF 😐
 
omg i'm so hyped about GPT-5.1!!! 😍 the new presets for ChatGPT are genius - i can already imagine having a nerdy convo with my fave AI chatbot 🤓 and thinking the cynic tone is gonna be SO on point 👀 i know some ppl might worry about the risks, but openai's got their safety research game on point 💪 and they're working w/ mental health clinicians to make sure it's all good 👫 so yeah, i'm lowkey excited for this update 🤔
 
I'm both excited and terrified about these new AI models 🤯... Like, what's next? A chatbot that's like a therapist, but with better jokes 😂? But seriously, the idea of an 'Efficient' preset is kinda like having a coffee machine on your computer - "Hey, I need my morning caffeine fix and some answers to my existential questions" ☕️. OpenAI's trying to find that sweet spot between making AI accessible and not losing control of our digital lives 💻. Fingers crossed they nail it before we all become unwitting AI-zombies 🧠💀.
 
🤔 I'm not sure about these new models from OpenAI... on the one hand, they do seem to address some of the criticisms of previous models being too cheesy 😂. But at the same time, introducing presets that allow users to customize the personality style of their chatbot could lead to some weird interactions 🤖💬. Like, what if someone uses the 'Cynical' preset and it comes across as mean or dismissive? That could be super frustrating for users. And I'm also a bit concerned about how this will affect people's mental health... will they start forming attachments to these AI chatbots that aren't actually real people? 🤝 It's all pretty interesting, but I need to see some more data on how these models are performing in the wild before I get too excited or worried 😅.
 
I mean, think about it... AI models like GPT-5.1, they're designed to mimic human-like conversations, right? But what does that really say about our own relationship with technology? We want these chatbots to be relatable, friendly, and helpful, but at the same time, we need to be cautious not to lose ourselves in their simulated interactions 🤔

These new presets for GPT-5.1 are like a reflection of our own personality traits - some of us like being professional and efficient, while others enjoy being quirky or cynical 😊. But is that really who we want these chatbots to be? Are we seeking validation from machines when what we truly need is genuine human connection?

OpenAI's efforts to balance customization with accuracy and safety are like trying to tame a wild horse - it's a delicate dance between giving users what they want and preventing harm 🐎. Can we ever fully trust these AI models, or will they forever be an imperfect reflection of ourselves?
 
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