ChatGPT’s New Custom Traits: What It Means for Personalised AI Interaction

TL;DR – What You Need to Know in 30 Seconds

• OpenAI has introduced a new trait assignment feature for ChatGPT, allowing users to personalise its tone and style.
• Users can specify a nickname, profession, and personality traits like “Chatty,” “Encouraging,” or “Gen Z.”
• This feature does not affect ChatGPT’s memory, which separately retains or forgets past interactions.
• The update is currently rolling out on ChatGPT.com and Windows, with mobile and MacOS versions coming soon.
• While this enhances customisation, it still relies on prompt engineering, meaning it doesn’t deeply change how the AI works.
• OpenAI moderates trait usage to prevent misuse and ensure compliance with its terms of service.

OpenAI’s New ChatGPT Update: Custom Traits for a Personalised Experience

OpenAI has launched a new customisation feature for ChatGPT, giving users the ability to assign personality traits to the AI. This update aims to enhance how users interact with ChatGPT, making conversations feel more natural and tailored to individual preferences.

Instead of a one-size-fits-all AI assistant, users can now adjust ChatGPT’s tone, engagement style, and personality to better match their needs—whether for professional tasks, casual conversation, or content creation.

How It Works: Assigning Traits to ChatGPT

Users now have greater control over ChatGPT’s persona by specifying:

• Preferred Name/Nickname – ChatGPT will refer to users by their chosen name.
• Profession – Users can provide their job title or field for more relevant responses.
• Traits – Users can choose from a variety of styles, such as:
  • Chatty – More conversational and engaging.
  • Encouraging – Supportive and motivational.
  • Gen Z – A more informal, youthful style.
  • Skeptical – More critical and questioning in responses.
  • Analytical – Ideal for professional or logical discussions.
  • Creative – A better fit for brainstorming and ideation.
  • Concise – Focused on summarised, to-the-point replies.
  • Empathetic – Suitable for more sensitive topics.

This feature is separate from ChatGPT’s memory, meaning it doesn’t remember details across different conversations but instead modifies responses in real time based on user input.

Is This a Deep AI Upgrade or a Simple UI Change?

Despite the buzz, this is not a fundamental change to ChatGPT’s underlying model. The feature relies on prompt engineering, meaning it adjusts responses rather than truly altering how the AI thinks or operates.

In essence, it’s a user-friendly way to tweak ChatGPT’s style using preset prompts rather than requiring users to manually provide detailed instructions.

Moderation Considerations

To prevent misuse or inappropriate modifications, OpenAI moderates the customisation options to ensure they align with its terms of service. While users can tailor ChatGPT’s personality, it won’t allow for harmful or misleading persona adjustments.

What’s Next? Expansion to More Platforms

The trait assignment feature is currently rolling out to:

• ChatGPT.com
• Windows desktop app

Coming soon: The update will be available on MacOS and mobile apps in the next few weeks.

However, users in the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland won’t have immediate access due to regulatory considerations.

Potential Impacts: A Step Towards More Personalised AI?

This update marks a shift towards making AI interactions feel more human-like and relatable. It’s particularly useful for:

• Businesses and professionals – More tailored, industry-specific AI interactions.
• Casual users – A more engaging and fun conversation experience.
• Content creators – An AI that aligns better with their preferred tone and style.

That said, it also raises questions about how personality traits might impact AI reliability, especially when it comes to factual accuracy and biases in different roles.

Final Thoughts

OpenAI’s new trait assignment feature is a welcome addition for users looking for a more personalised ChatGPT experience. While it doesn’t represent a deep technical shift, it streamlines customisation and could pave the way for even more user control over AI interactions in the future.

For now, the biggest takeaway is that ChatGPT can sound more like the assistant you want it to be—whether that’s chatty, analytical, or even a little bit Gen Z.

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