GPT 5.1 isn't just a chatbot; it's a reasoning engine. To unlock its full potential, you need to switch modes. Here is the official breakdown of how to control its "Thought Process."
Reasoning Modes
High Reasoning
Best for: Planning, Complex Analysis, Decisions.
USE CASE"Evaluate 3 product launch strategies and recommend the best one."
Minimal Reasoning
Best for: Quick tasks, Summaries, Fast Answers.
USE CASE"Convert this project update into 5 clear bullet points."
Verbosity Control
Control output length: Brief, Moderate, or Detailed.
USE CASE"Detailed: Write a full tutorial with steps and illustrations."
Advanced Techniques
Chain of Thought
Force the model to think step-by-step.
"Review quarterly data in stages, analyze trends, and THEN finish with top 3 priorities."
Tree of Thought
Force the model to explore multiple possibilities.
"Propose three completely different market entry strategies. Analyze the risk, cost, and reward for EACH. Then recommend the winner."