ChatGPT free users now get GPT-5.2 Instant by default as OpenAI ends automatic model switching

ChatGPT

ChatGPT users on the free plan and the lower-cost Go subscription will now be talking to a simpler AI model by default. According to a recent update spotted in ChatGPT’s release notes, OpenAI has changed how it handles model selection for these users, moving away from automatically switching to more advanced models for complex questions.

In an update dated December 11, OpenAI said it is removing automatic model switching for reasoning tasks for free users and ChatGPT Go subscribers. Earlier, ChatGPT would sometimes decide on its own that a question needed deeper reasoning and quietly route it to a more powerful model. That will no longer happen. Instead, prompts from free and Go users will now be answered by GPT-5.2 Instant by default.

OpenAI says the change is meant to give users more control. While GPT-5.2 Instant will handle most conversations, users can still choose the more advanced “Thinking” model if they feel their question needs deeper reasoning. To do that, they will have to manually select Thinking from the tools menu each time they want to use it.

ChatGPT Go is a limited subscription that costs $5 per month and is only available in certain regions. Both free and Go users will continue to have access to the Thinking model, but it will no longer be automatically triggered in the background.

OpenAI describes GPT-5.2 Instant as a reliable option for everyday tasks like learning, writing, and general questions. The Thinking model, on the other hand, is positioned as better suited for harder problems and more complex tasks, offering more detailed and refined responses.

This move follows earlier frustration from users over OpenAI’s automatic model switching. When GPT-5 was first introduced, many frequent users complained that ChatGPT felt less expressive and more limited. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman later acknowledged these complaints, saying the company was also unhappy with how confusing the model selection experience had become.

However, the change may also raise concerns. In the past, OpenAI said it automatically routed sensitive or emotionally complex conversations to its reasoning model because it handled those situations better. With automatic switching now removed, that safety net is no longer in place. OpenAI says GPT-5.2 Instant has improved enough to handle such conversations well, but it remains to be seen how this plays out in real use.

Gizmodo has reached out to OpenAI to ask whether this change brings any additional limits for free or Go users. OpenAI has not responded yet, and the company may share more details in the coming days.

For now, free users will notice one clear difference: ChatGPT will no longer quietly switch to a smarter model in the background. If they want deeper reasoning, they will have to ask for it themselves.