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OpenAI Enhances GPT-5 to Deliver Warmer, Friendlier Responses

TL;DR

• OpenAI has quickly revamped GPT-5’s personality after widespread user complaints about its cold and robotic tone at launch.
• Users can now choose between Auto, Fast, and Thinking modes to tailor how chatbots sound and respond, offering greater personalization.
• CEO Sam Altman acknowledged user attachment to specific AI personalities and promised even more customization options are coming.

Introduction

The latest upgrade to OpenAI’s flagship large language model, GPT-5, is much more than an ordinary software refresh. Just one week after its highly anticipated launch, OpenAI has made significant personality adjustments in response to an overwhelming wave of user feedback. The initial rollout sparked criticism: GPT-5’s responses sounded noticeably colder and more formal compared to its predecessors, leaving many long-time users feeling disconnected from their digital companion.

In this article, we break down exactly why OpenAI made these rapid changes, how GPT-5’s friendlier style is being received, and what this shift means for the future of highly personalized AI chatbots.

The Backlash: GPT-5’s Launch and Mixed User Reception

On August 7, 2025, OpenAI unveiled GPT-5 as the next evolution in natural language processing. Yet quickly, the excitement turned to disappointment for many users. Early adopters took to platforms like Reddit to air their grievances, describing interactions with GPT-5 as “cold,” “corporate,” and less human-like than previous generations.

What went wrong?

• Loss of Familiar Personality: GPT-5 dropped the reassuring, conversational phrases users had come to expect (“Great question!,” “Happy to help!”). Without these, interactions felt sterile and impersonal.
• Mandatory Switch: OpenAI removed access to “legacy models” (such as GPT-4o) without warning, leaving users no choice but to adapt to GPT-5.
• Technical Glitches: On top of personality woes, a router malfunction caused user queries to be routed incorrectly, leading some people to get responses from weaker, less capable models.

One common thread united the feedback: users missed the warmth and relatability they had established with earlier models. Tasks that once benefited from supportive, encouraging responses now felt dreary and transactional.

OpenAI’s Response: Making GPT-5 Friendly Again

Just days later, OpenAI’s team responded decisively. CEO Sam Altman addressed concerns on X (formerly Twitter), admitting the company had underestimated the emotional attachment users form with AI personalities:

“The real solution here remains letting users customize ChatGPT’s style much more. We are working on that.”

OpenAI quickly rolled out updates to make GPT-5 “warmer and friendlier.” The model regained some familiar conversational cues, making responses more engaging and personable.

Key Changes in GPT-5’s New Update

• Three Distinct Modes: Users can now select from Auto, Fast, and Thinking modes, influencing both the tone and depth of responses. This new flexibility puts users in control, helping them shape their preferred AI interaction style.
• Restoring Legacy Models: Facing user backlash, OpenAI restored access to GPT-4o and other legacy models, so users aren’t forced into an unwanted upgrade.
• Increased Rate Limits: GPT-5’s reasoning functionality now allows for up to 3,000 messages weekly, a significant boost for power users.

The Importance of AI Personality: Why Users Care

While it may seem trivial, the “personality” of AI models has a significant impact on user engagement and satisfaction. According to Altman, the intensity of user attachment to specific model behaviors surprised even OpenAI’s leadership. Many users described a sense of loss, akin to losing a trusted colleague or friend.

• Routines and Comfort: People build routines around the style and quirks of their AI assistant, which can range from work productivity to daily mental health check-ins or creative brainstorming.
• Consistency Breeds Trust: A consistent and empathetic digital assistant means users can better rely on the technology for both factual and emotional support.
• User Customization: The desire for further customization—allowing users to finely tune tone, humor, enthusiasm—has become a clear expectation for AI platforms.

In the AI era, personality is no longer just a branding element—it’s integral to the technology’s utility and adoption.

Technical Hiccups: How Tech Issues Fueled the Fire

The personality problem was compounded by technical faults. A misconfigured router briefly routed some GPT-5 users to budget-friendly, but less capable models. This impacted the perceived “intelligence” and perceived warmth of the responses, making the new launch look even more disappointing than it really was.

OpenAI’s quick reversal—restoring both technical functionality and user choice—helped to contain some of the negative response.

OpenAI’s Approach: Rapid Iteration and User Feedback Loop

The GPT-5 incident highlights both the risks and rewards of deploying AI tools in the real world. OpenAI’s willingness to respond to user feedback nearly in real-time is emblematic of a broader trend: AI development is no longer a one-way, top-down process.

• User Feedback as R&D: Live user feedback is now essential in refining both AI models and their UI/UX design.
• Transparency from Leadership: Sam Altman’s transparent messaging and clear acknowledgment of user concerns built back some trust quickly.
• Agile Rollbacks: Rather than digging in, OpenAI promptly reinstated legacy options (like GPT-4o) and apologized for abrupt changes.

Future of Personalized AI: What’s Next?

The GPT-5 saga shows that AI users now expect a degree of personal connection and customization on par with human interactions. OpenAI’s next steps are clear:

• More Customization: Altman and his team are working on empowering users to fine-tune ChatGPT’s conversational style, tailoring warmth, formality, and tone to individual preferences.
• Transparency in Model Updates: People want to know what changed and why—and companies are learning to proactively communicate these updates.
• Smoother Rollouts: Future upgrades are likely to include opt-out or dual-track upgrades (so users can keep a ‘legacy’ model if they wish).

As AI becomes further embedded in home and workplace routines, the boundaries between user, tool, and companion will continue to blur.

Summary and Key Takeaways

• OpenAI’s GPT-5 quickly pivoted back to a friendlier tone after the community’s powerful feedback.
• AI is not just about accuracy; it is also about relationship, warmth, and user choice.
• Personalization and emotional intelligence are the future of competitive AI platforms.
• OpenAI’s willingness to adapt rapidly sets a new industry standard for AI product management.

If you want a predictable, friendly AI at your side—and the ability to “tweak” its personality to suit your mood or task—you’re getting closer with each OpenAI update.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Why did OpenAI change GPT-5’s personality so soon after launch?

A: User feedback revealed widespread dissatisfaction with GPT-5’s “cold” and formal tone. Many users found it less engaging than previous models. OpenAI responded rapidly, adding back warmth and offering new customization modes.

Q2: What are the new modes available in GPT-5, and how do they work?

A: GPT-5 now features three modes: Auto (balances response time and depth), Fast (for quick, concise replies), and Thinking (offers more thoughtful, detailed answers). Users can choose these to match their preferences for style and speed.

Q3: Will OpenAI allow even more personalization in AI chatbots in the future?

A: Yes! CEO Sam Altman and the OpenAI team have committed to developing tools that let users customize ChatGPT’s style even further, including tone, formality, and personality. More detailed controls are currently in development.

Final Thoughts

The GPT-5 story is an inflection point for the AI industry. As language models become everyday work and home companions, their “personality” and presence are as important as their smarts. OpenAI’s flexibility in embracing user input—fixing not just what AI says, but also how it says it—signals a new, more collaborative era of artificial intelligence.

Stay tuned for more updates, as OpenAI and other companies continue to push the boundaries of truly personalized, “human-like” AI.

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