ChatGPT Free Users Now Default to GPT-5.2 Instant; OpenAI Ends Auto-Switching

• ChatGPT free users and ChatGPT Go subscribers are now defaulted to GPT-5.2 Instant.
• OpenAI has removed the automatic model switching feature that previously routed complex queries to more advanced models.
• Users can still manually select the more powerful 'Thinking model' for complex tasks from the tools menu.
• The change aims to give users more control, addressing past frustrations with automatic switching and model behavior.
• Concerns about safety for sensitive conversations, previously handled by reasoning models, are addressed by OpenAI, stating GPT-5.2 Instant is now improved.

Why It Matters: OpenAI ends automatic model switching for free ChatGPT users, defaulting them to GPT-5.2 Instant.