The AI Daily Brief: Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis 6 Things GPT-5.1 Does Better
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Nov 14, 2025 The surprise release of GPT-5.1 has generated buzz with its exciting upgrades. Key features include sharper strategic thinking and improved instruction following. The model's more personable tone has polarized users, some love its warmth while others find it annoying. This version excels at deeper reasoning, allowing it to tackle complex questions more effectively. Nathaniel also discusses how enhanced writing abilities and better interaction quality signify a meaningful evolution in AI use. Overall, GPT-5.1 feels more alive and capable than ever.
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Smarter, More Conversational Model
- GPT-5.1 focuses on both improved intelligence and more enjoyable conversation to drive better user experience.
- OpenAI emphasizes adaptive reasoning so the model decides when to "think" more for harder questions.
Adaptive Thinking Times
- 5.1 Thinking adapts time spent: much faster on easy tasks and slower on hard ones for better accuracy.
- The model spends ~57% less time on easy problems and ~71% more on hardest problems compared to GPT-5.
Value Vibes Over Benchmarks
- Prioritize real-world feel and usability over tiny benchmark gains when evaluating new models.
- Test models in your workflow to see whether their "vibes" actually improve retention and effectiveness.