OpenAI overhauls ChatGPT's model selection

OpenAI has redesigned how model selection works in ChatGPT. Instead of individual model names, users now see up to three tiers at first glance, depending on their subscription: "Instant" for quick, everyday responses, "Thinking" for more complex tasks, and "Pro" for the most powerful models. The new menu lets users pick a specific model version from a dropdown - options include "Latest" (currently 5.4), 5.2, 5.0, or o3.

More granular settings are available under "Configure." That's where users can turn on the old Auto function, which lets ChatGPT switch from Instant to Thinking when it detects a more complex question. OpenAI has also recently simplified the repeat menu under Answers and added the "Nerdy" personality style. On top of that, the company is rolling out GPT-5.4 mini and improving GPT-5.3 Instant, which now uses less sensationalized wording according to the changelog.

The so-called routing system—where ChatGPT decides which model handles a given request—has been a sore spot for OpenAI for a while now. Many users found the system opaque when it first launched, since the router didn't always pick the most capable model. That fueled suspicion that OpenAI was quietly steering expensive requests toward cheaper models to save on compute costs.