OpenAI announces updates to ChatGPT; CEO Sam Altman says ‘Most users will…’

OpenAI has announced new updates to ChatGPT. Sharing a post on X (formerly Twitter), CEO Sam Altman writes that users can now choose between ‘Auto’, ‘Fast’, and ‘Thinking’ for GPT-5. He said that while most users are expected to use the Auto mode, the added control could be useful for certain tasks. “You can now choose between “Auto”, “Fast”, and “Thinking” for GPT-5. Most users will want Auto, but the additional control will be useful for some people,” Altman wrote in the post.

According to Sam Altman, rate limits are now set at 3,000 messages per week for GPT-5 Thinking, with extra capacity available on GPT-5 Thinking mini once the limit is reached. The context limit for GPT-5 Thinking is 196,000 tokens. He added that these limits may change over time depending on usage.Altman further stated that the GPT-4o model is now back in the picker for all paid users by default. If OpenAI ever plans to remove it, he said that users will get “plenty of notice.”

Further, paid users also have a new “Show additional models” option in ChatGPT’s web settings, allowing them to access models like o3, 4.1, and GPT-5 Thinking mini. GPT-4.5 will remain available only to Pro subscribers due to its high GPU cost.Altman also said OpenAI is working on an update to GPT-5’s personality to make it feel “warmer” without being as casual as GPT-4o. He added that the company aims to give users more ways to customize the model’s personality in the future.

Sam Altman addresses GPT-5 criticism

The company recently rolled out its latest AI model – GPT-5. However, users claimed GPT-5 was overly cautious, less creative, and more restrictive compared to earlier versions. Many Plus subscribers argued that the upgrade did not justify the monthly fee, especially with tighter compute limits.Addressing the criticism, Altman pledged to introduce more upgrades for ChatGPT users, including improved model variety, higher usage limits, and better responsiveness.