How to Get More from the New GPT-5.6 Update in ChatGPT
The August 6 update brings an improved GPT-5.6 Sol to Plus and Pro users with more reliable facts, more focused answers, and a slider for controlling thinking effort.
How to Get More from the New GPT-5.6 Update in ChatGPT
OpenAI updated the GPT-5.6 experience in ChatGPT on August 6, 2026. Plus and Pro users now have an updated GPT-5.6 Sol designed for more reliable facts and more focused answers, together with a new slider that controls how much thinking effort ChatGPT uses.
1. Use lighter thinking for quick tasks
For simple translation, rewriting, and direct questions, a lower thinking level can be appropriate when speed matters more than deep analysis.
2. Increase thinking for complex problems
For large-code analysis, technical tradeoffs, multi-constraint planning, or difficult debugging, choose a higher thinking level and provide clear context, objectives, and constraints.
3. Verify important information
Improved factual reliability does not mean the model is infallible. For legal, financial, medical, or rapidly changing information, ask for current sources and review them.
The release notes also say GPT-5.6 Luna is becoming the default model for Free and Go users. The best approach is to match thinking effort to task difficulty rather than always choosing the maximum setting.