Free and Go users are now routed to GPT-5.2 Instant by default, with no automatic switching to advanced reasoning models.
Access to the more capable “Thinking” model remains available, but only through manual selection each time.
The change is likely aimed at cutting compute costs, raising questions around performance and safety for complex queries.
OpenAI has reportedly changed how its ChatGPT works for users on its free tier and low-cost Go subscription. The AI giant has switched to the most affordable AI model for the tiers as the default, possibly to reduce operational costs. As per recent update notes spotted by Wired, ChatGPT will now route prompts from free and Go users to the GPT-5.2 Instant model by default. The company has also discontinued automatic switching to more advanced reasoning models for these users.
SurveyPreviously, certain complex or sensitive queries were automatically routed to a more capable Thinking model when the system believed it would produce better results. In a December 11 update, OpenAI stated that the change was intended to give users more control. While the default model is now GPT-5.2 Instant, users can still select the Thinking model from the tools menu while composing a message. However, rather than occurring automatically in the background, this must be done deliberately and, most likely, repeatedly.
The company described GPT 5.2 Instant as a general-purpose model capable of solving everyday tasks and learning, whereas the Thinking model is better suited to demanding problems requiring deeper reasoning and refinement. Users on the free and Go plans can still access the advanced model, but only if they actively choose to.
OpenAI describes the update as a response to long-standing user concerns about automated model selection. When GPT-5 was first released, many regular users criticised the experience, claiming that automatic routing lowered the chatbot’s personality and output quality. CEO Sam Altman has previously acknowledged frustrations with the model selection system, stating that the company was dissatisfied with how it operated.
At the same time, the shift also serves as a clear cost-cutting measure as defaulting the millions of free users to get cheaper models, OpenAI is likely to reduce compute expenses, particularly since many users may not notice or bother to change which model they are using.
There are also potential implications for user safety. In the past, OpenAI said sensitive conversations, including those involving mental health concerns, were automatically handled by reasoning-focused models that produced more nuanced responses. With automatic switching now removed, OpenAI says GPT-5.2 Instant has been improved to handle such situations, though it remains to be seen how well it performs in practice.
It must be noted that OpenAI has not yet clarified whether additional limits or changes are planned for free and Go users.
Follow Us
Ashish Singh
Ashish Singh is the Chief Copy Editor at Digit. He's been wrangling tech jargon since 2020 (Times Internet, Jagran English '22). When not policing commas, he's likely fueling his gadget habit with coffee, strategising his next virtual race, or plotting a road trip to test the latest in-car tech. He speaks fluent Geek. View Full Profile
