OpenAI Reorganizes Model Spec Around Five Core Values

Oct 29, 2026
OpenAI has revised its Model Spec around faithfulness to human intent, harm minimization, honesty and transparency, human agency, and care. The update also adds guidance on context and oversight while removing most detailed style rules.

OpenAI updated its Model Spec around five core values: faithfulness to human intent, harm minimization, honesty and transparency, human agency, and care. The company detailed the changes on its website.

The revision adds guidance on using conversations, memories, and other context to understand user preferences. It also updates the chain of command for resolving conflicting instructions and expands guidance on oversight, social norms, human agency, and communicating side effects.

OpenAI removed most detailed style guidance so responses can adapt to user preferences, languages, and cultures. The specification retains defaults such as objective treatment of questions, and now refers to the model as GPT rather than the assistant. OpenAI said its models do not yet fully reflect all behavior described in the specification.

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