By skyforbes 
What works, what doesn’t, and why everyone has opinions
OpenAI has just released ChatGPT 5.1, and I’ve been putting it through its paces this week. Here’s the thing: I actually like it. The personalization options alone are worth the upgrade — I can finally dial in the exact voice and tone I want without fighting the model every step of the way. It’s like finally getting a remote control that actually works for your TV instead of accidentally changing channels when you just wanted to adjust the volume.
Not everyone agrees with me, and I found some valid criticisms out there. But let me back up my opinion with real-life tests of my own. Let’s take a look at what this latest ugrade can actually do.
The Two-Model Tango
OpenAI released two flavours: GPT-5.1 Instant (warmer, more intelligent, better at following instructions) and GPT-5.1 Thinking (the advanced reasoning model that’s now easier to understand and faster on simple tasks, more persistent on complex ones). Think of it like having a friend who knows when to shoot you a quick text versus when to sit down for a proper conversation. If only more actual friends were this perceptive…
For the first time, GPT-5.1 Instant can utilize adaptive reasoning to determine when to…