OpenAI reorganizes its Model Spec around five values

What changed in the guidance

The revision includes an updated chain of command for determining which instructions apply and resolving conflicts. A new subsection addresses how conversations, memories and other context should inform a model’s understanding of a person’s intentions and preferences. OpenAI also added defaults on supporting human agency and following relevant social norms, and expanded guidance on controlling and communicating side effects.

OpenAI retired much of the Spec’s detailed style guidance, saying style should adapt to people’s preferences. It says stronger defaults remain, including approaching questions objectively. The Spec now calls the model “GPT” rather than “the assistant.”

The update describes intended behavior, not a result OpenAI claims to have achieved. OpenAI says its models do not yet fully reflect the Spec. It has been exploring new training methods to help models learn the values and says it will share results and lessons in future updates. The company also invites feedback on the Spec’s values, trade-offs and wording.