ChatGPT just made choosing the right model easier, just like Gemini does: here’s when to use Instant, Thinking or Pro

ChatGPT’s template selector has been moved directly to the prompt area
Snapshot is faster, while reflection is better for complex tasks
Pro gives ChatGPT subscribers the most powerful option for more challenging workflows

OpenAI has just quietly updated the ChatGPT interface for all users on the Plus, Pro and Business plans in a subtle way that makes it much easier to choose which version of its model you want to use – either instant, for quick results, or reflected, for a more considered response. But these aren’t your only choices, and there is a hidden setting, as we’ll explain.

Previously, these options were grouped in an obscure “ChatGPT” menu at the top of the screen, which, frankly, few people knew existed. They are now where you write your prompt, and you can be sure that people will use the different options a lot more.

The new menu allows you to choose between Instant, Thinking and Configure. Here’s what you might not realize: the Instant option actually uses GPT-5.3, not the latest GPT-5.5. To use it, you must select Thinking.

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If you select Configure, you can specify exactly which version of the template you want to use, from older GPT templates, dating back to versions 5.4, 5.2, and o3.

When to use Thinking and Instant

ChatGPT-5.5 Thinking is best for difficult tasks. He does a better job of following up on what he’s already done. The way it produces its results is also different. It can sometimes display a short preamble before starting the reasoning. You can even add instructions as you think out loud to adjust the final direction. You also get much more streamlined output, with cleaner formatting and less unnecessary header text, even if it takes a long time to get your response.

On the other hand, ChatGPT-5.3 Instant is much better at providing quick results. This might matter if you’re like me, because if I have to wait more than 10 seconds for something on the internet, I get distracted and start looking at something else, and before I know it, I’ve forgotten what I was actually doing in the first place.

So, if I had time and wanted a more comprehensive answer to a complex question like: “Given the current state of the market, how long do you think RAM prices will remain high?” ”, I would use Thinking. If I wanted to know something simple, like “What is the average flight speed of a wide-body aircraft?” ”, I would use Instant.

Under the Configure menu, you’ll also notice that there is an option for ChatGPT to automatically select which version of the template to use for you, based on the complexity of your question.

The auto-select switch is on by default, but there is also the ethical element to consider. Instant uses less processing power in an AI data center, and therefore less water used for cooling. It’s a bit like running your dishwasher in Eco mode. While it’s probably better for the planet to not have a dishwasher at all, running it in Eco mode at least uses fewer natural resources.

The hidden parameter that affects thinking time

You might think there’s not much to the model version selector, but there is a hidden setting worth knowing about.

If you move your cursor to Thinking in the menu and then hover over the option, you’ll notice that you have a choice between Standard and Extended. This is the amount of time ChatGPT will spend thinking about your question or prompt.

So if you want to squeeze the most processing power out of ChatGPT, choose Extended here:

The thinking time menu hidden in the ChatGPT interface. (Image credit: OpenAI)

The last option in the Configure menu is Pro. This is the highest performance GPT-5.5 option currently offered by ChatGPT. It’s intended for the toughest tasks and long-running workflows, and is only available to Pro subscribers.

Just like Gemini

Of course, if you are a ChatGPT user with a Free or Go plan, nothing will have changed in your web interface: you will still have the old “ChatGPT” menu visible at the top of the screen. The interface of the application version of ChatGPT also remains unchanged. It’s unclear if this change will eventually roll out to the interface of these different plans and platforms in the future.

It hasn’t escaped my notice that the new look ChatGPT is going for is exactly that of Gemini. It’s interesting to see OpenAI change some of its interface to look more like Gemini.

Now that a template option selector has appeared in exactly the same place in ChatGPT, instead of being hidden in some obscure place, you can bet it will be used a lot more, and that will lead to better answers for everyone.

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