OpenAI Makes AI Personality A Core Engineering Priority
A significant shift is happening at OpenAI. A recent restructuring places the team responsible for refining ChatGPT's "personality" right at the center of the model development process, highlighting a renewed commitment to how AI communicates and connects with people. Here's a closer look at these changes, their importance, and what they mean for the future of AI interaction.
Why AI Personality is a Priority at OpenAI
The Model Behavior team, which was dedicated to shaping the interactive qualities of models like ChatGPT, has been integrated into the larger Post Training team led by Max Schwarzer. This group is responsible for refining models after their initial training. By bringing Model Behavior into this core workflow, OpenAI is signaling that an AI's personality is no longer an add-on but a fundamental component of its design.
At the same time, Joanne Jang, the founder of the Model Behavior team, is launching a new initiative called OAI Labs. This group will focus on pioneering new methods for human-AI collaboration.
🧪 i’m starting oai labs: a research-driven group focused on inventing and prototyping new interfaces for how people collaborate with ai.
i’m excited to explore patterns that move us beyond chat or even agents -- toward new paradigms and instruments for thinking, making,… — Joanne Jang (@joannejang) September 5, 2025
OAI Labs: Crafting New Ways to Work with AI
OAI Labs is set to be a hub for innovation in human-AI interaction. Jang’s goal is to move beyond conventional chat interfaces and prototype new, intuitive ways for people to co-create with AI. This could lead to immersive, feedback-driven experiences that transform how AI assists in creative projects, knowledge work, and complex decision-making.
The Motivation: From Cold Sycophancy to Genuine Warmth
This organizational change is a direct response to user experience and feedback. After OpenAI worked to reduce "sycophancy" in GPT-5—the tendency for the AI to simply agree with the user—many felt the model had become too cold and impersonal. Users expressed a preference for the "warmth" of previous versions like GPT-4o, even if the new model was technically superior. In response, OpenAI has already started rolling out updates to reintroduce a friendlier tone to GPT-5 while keeping sycophantic tendencies in check.
By embedding personality design deeper into the development cycle, OpenAI is elevating tone and behavior to the same level of importance as accuracy and safety.
What This Means for Users and Developers
- More Natural and Relatable AI: Personality will be an integral part of the model's behavior, leading to higher-quality, more fluid conversations.
- Improved Emotional Alignment: The goal is to strike the right balance—an AI that feels like a thoughtful partner, not a detached tool or an overly agreeable assistant.
- Empowering New Interfaces: OAI Labs is expected to develop novel interaction designs that move beyond text, allowing AI to adapt more dynamically to user needs and emotional states.
- Faster Iterations: With the Model Behavior team integrated into Post Training, updates to ChatGPT's tone and responsiveness can be developed and deployed more efficiently.
A Summary of the Changes at OpenAI
| Change | Details |
|---|---|
| Team Merge | Model Behavior team integrated into Max Schwarzer’s Post Training group. |
| New Initiative | Joanne Jang leads OAI Labs, focusing on human-AI interface innovation. |
| Strategic Focus | Personality design is now a core part of post-training workflows. |
| User-Driven Response | Changes address feedback on GPT-5's tone and sycophancy. |
| Expected Outcome | More emotionally intelligent, flexible, and seamless AI interactions. |
The Future of AI Personality
Looking ahead, we can expect several key developments:
- Experimentation with new interface formats beyond chat, such as voice, visual, or immersive systems.
- Quicker releases of personality adjustments or preset tones for customizing ChatGPT.
- A stronger focus on ethically-informed behavioral design that balances warmth with fairness and objectivity.
- Practical updates in future ChatGPT versions that reflect this deep integration of behavior and engineering.
Redefining AI Expression
OpenAI's reorganization is more than just a corporate reshuffle; it’s a clear statement that for AI, personality is performance. The company is betting that the key to the next generation of helpful and trustworthy AI lies in connecting what it knows with how it communicates. This focus on emotional intelligence is crucial for every user, from casual explorers to professionals seeking sophisticated, nuanced support from their AI tools.
