OpenAI Rolls Out ChatGPT Personalization Controls for Warmth, Enthusiasm and Emojis
OpenAI is introducing expanded personalization features in ChatGPT that give users direct control over how the AI sounds and formats its responses. The update, announced in December 2025, adds new settings that go beyond basic tone presets to let users tweak characteristics like warmth, enthusiasm, and emoji use. Yahoo Tech
Fine-Tuning Tone and Style
The new controls appear in the Personalization menu of the ChatGPT app and website. Users can now adjust:
- Warmth — how friendly or emotionally engaging the responses feel
- Enthusiasm — the level of energy or excitement conveyed
- Emoji Use — frequency of emoji in replies
- Headers & Lists — how much the output uses structured formatting like headings and bullet points OpenAI Help Center+1
Each trait can be set to More, Less, or Default, allowing users to tailor the tone to different tasks without repeatedly editing prompts. These new settings work alongside existing base styles and tones such as Professional, Candid, and Quirky. Yahoo Tech
Why This Update Matters
Until now, users could guide ChatGPT’s style mainly through custom instructions or base tone presets. With the new personalization options, it’s easier to shape emotional nuance and formatting in every conversation without extra effort. Data Studios ‧Exafin
This update reflects growing demand for more adaptable AI communication. It also responds to past feedback: earlier in 2025, OpenAI rolled back a version of ChatGPT considered too flattering (“sycophant-y”), then made the model warmer and friendlier after users said it sometimes felt too cold or distant. Yahoo Tech
How It Works in Practice
To access these controls:
- Open the ChatGPT app or web interface.
- Tap your profile icon.
- Go to Personalization.
- Select Add Characteristics, then adjust sliders for warmth, enthusiasm, emojis, and formatting. OpenAI Help Center
Once set, preferences apply to new chats and help shape the overall conversational experience, from casual exchanges to professional outputs. Data Studios ‧Exafin
