New Delhi: OpenAI has begun rolling out a new feature for ChatGPT users in India, allowing them to personalise the AI’s tone and conversational style. Many users on December 10 reported seeing a pop-up on the web interface reading “Try a new personality for ChatGPT,” signalling the start of a broader rollout tied to the GPT-5.1 model.
The update introduces a set of predefined modes—called “personalities”—designed to change how ChatGPT communicates without altering the underlying model’s knowledge or performance. According to a report from Gadgets 360, the move is intended to make the service more intuitive, reducing the need for users to craft detailed prompts to instruct the AI on how to respond.
GPT-5 has 4 new chat personalities: Cynic, Robot, Listener, Nerd.
Find them in Customize ChatGPT in settings.
Research preview. Text-only. Opt-in. Change anytime.
Written by Robot in GPT-5. pic.twitter.com/XxyWYNYxHt
— OpenAI (@OpenAI) August 7, 2025
Users can choose from eight personalities: Default, Professional, Friendly, Candid, Quirky, Efficient, Nerdy and Cynical. Each mode modifies the tone and structure of responses, ranging from formal and concise to playful or deeply technical. The company says the feature can also be adjusted later through the settings menu.
The preset modes were initially introduced earlier this year but have been refined with the GPT-5.1 upgrade. Three personalities—Professional, Candid and Quirky—have been added since November. Other changes include fine-tuning the Default mode and renaming earlier personalities such as Listener and Robots to Friendy and Efficient. Nerdy and Cynical remain unchanged.
| Personality | Style |
|---|---|
| Default | Balanced, neutral, and natural |
| Professional | Polished and precise, office tone |
| Friendly | Warm, chatty, human-like conversation |
| Candid | Direct, motivating, straightforward |
| Quirky | Imaginative, fun, and creative |
| Efficient | Short, clear, and direct answers |
| Nerdy | Technical, deeply exploratory, enthusiastic |
| Cynical | Slightly sarcastic, critical, and dry humor |
The update is designed to help users maintain a consistent tone across long conversations. Once a personality is selected, the AI continues to respond in that style until the user switches modes, even in new chat sessions. OpenAI says the feature is particularly useful for students, professionals, writers and programmers who frequently switch between tasks requiring different tones.
Reports also indicate that OpenAI is preparing further upgrades. According to recent speculation, the company may soon introduce GPT-5.2, with improvements to the existing personalities and possibly additional modes. For now, the latest release aims to offer a more personalised and seamless experience to India’s growing base of ChatGPT users.
