OpenAI Rolls Out GPT-4.1 and GPT-4.1 Mini for ChatGPT
The company says its GPT‑4.1 mini is now the default fallback model for everyone.
AI models don’t always need to be groundbreaking to make a difference. Sometimes, quiet changes in speed, structure, and focus can shape the way we work—and that’s the case with GPT‑4.1 and GPT‑4.1 mini, which are now available directly in ChatGPT.
OpenAI originally launched GPT‑4.1 and GPT‑4.1 mini in April 2025 via its developer-facing API. At the time, the release stirred some controversy in the AI research space, as the company shipped the models without the usual technical or safety report. As covered on Techloy, GPT‑4.1 was designed for performance, with particular emphasis on coding and instruction-following, areas where OpenAI claimed significant improvements over its earlier models.
Now, that same model is being made available more broadly. GPT‑4.1 has rolled out to ChatGPT Plus, Team, and Enterprise users, while GPT‑4.1 mini replaces GPT‑4.0 mini as the fallback for both free and paid accounts. The move brings a more powerful and efficient text model into ChatGPT’s daily use, with noticeable gains in consistency, speed, and prompt handling.
Emmanuel Oyedeji
One of GPT‑4.1’s standout features is its 1 million-token context window, nearly eight times larger than the 128,000-token limit in GPT‑4‑turbo (an earlier version often informally referred to as GPT‑4.5). This expanded memory allows it to process larger documents, track longer conversations, and handle complex tasks like codebase analysis with fewer interruptions.
That said, while early benchmarks point to improved instruction-following and code generation, GPT‑4.1 scored 54.6% on the SWE-bench Verified benchmark—these gains are based on OpenAI’s internal tests. Independent evaluations are still catching up, and users may notice trade-offs in tone or conversational nuance compared to previous versions.
As part of this rollout, GPT‑4.0 mini has been retired, and OpenAI plans to fully phase out GPT‑4‑turbo from its API by July 2025, aiming to simplify its model lineup and reduce confusion among users.
Rather than chasing headlines, GPT‑4.1 brings practical, targeted upgrades for power users, signalling OpenAI’s shift toward models that prioritise clarity, control, and consistent output over flair.
Emmanuel Oyedeji
