01
Restaurant reservations
Find live availability and narrow choices in chat.
Twist Consultancy resource · 12 May to 12 August 2026Source baseline checked 12 August
ChatGPT changed.
Here’s what matters.
A practical, plain-English field guide to the last three months of new and improved features. Understand what each one does, see a real-world example, then decide where it could genuinely help.
18material changes
11practical categories
3 minto find your first action
The change log
Three months at a glance
OpenAI shipped dozens of updates. These are the moments that materially changed what most people can do.
02
Voice meets files and Projects
Discuss source material aloud, in context.
03
Work, Sites and Plugins
ChatGPT shifts from answering to completing.
04
Scheduled tasks
Recurring work and change monitoring get a proper home.
05
Charts and writing blocks
Answers become more useful, visual and editable.
06
Library expands
Saved files become reusable working material.
Editorial standard
Useful is not enough.
It must be verified.
This guide interprets official OpenAI information in plain English. A feature does not appear here until its source, date and access context have been recorded.
Primary source first
Every feature links to the relevant OpenAI release note or official product guidance. Third-party coverage may inform research, but never confirms a claim.
Material change only
We include features that change what a non-technical person can realistically do, not every model adjustment or interface tweak.
Access stated plainly
Plan, device, region and workspace restrictions sit beside the practical guidance. A rollout is not presented as universal availability.
Update rule: each new card must include an official source link and a check date before it can be published. When OpenAI changes or withdraws a capability, the card is updated or archived with a dated note.
The practical guide
Find the feature you need
Search by task or filter by type. Open any card for an example and a short setup guide.
Showing 18 of 18 features
NewOfficial source checked01ChatGPT Work
An agent for longer tasks that can research, use files and connected apps, and produce finished documents, spreadsheets, presentations, reports and Sites.
What it could do
Turn a client brief, previous proposal and meeting notes into a complete first-draft proposal, then refine it with your feedback.
Get started
- Choose Work rather than Chat
- Describe the outcome and add your source material
- Review the plan, answer questions and approve important actions
Try this
“Create a concise client proposal from these files. First identify any missing decisions, then draft the finished document for my review.”
Availability: Paid plans, with rollout and usage varying by plan
NewOfficial source checked02ChatGPT Sites
Turns an idea, document or dataset into an interactive website or lightweight app inside ChatGPT.
You are looking at a Site now.
What it could do
Create an interactive AI readiness report with filters, scorecards and recommended next actions.
Get started
- Open Work on the web or Work/Codex on desktop
- Describe the site and provide its content or data
- Review the private version and ask for refinements
Try this
“Build a one-page interactive guide from this report. Include a searchable topic directory, practical examples and a mobile-friendly layout.”
Availability: Beta. Public publishing was not available in the UK at launch
Verified against official OpenAI informationCreating and managing ChatGPT Sites ↗Checked 12 Aug 2026
NewOfficial source checked03Plugins and Skills
The App Directory became the Plugin Directory. Plugins can bundle connected apps, repeatable skills and setup templates for specific workflows.
What it could do
Use a presentation skill and connected files to turn a strategy report into an editable slide deck.
Get started
- Open Plugins from the sidebar
- Choose a plugin and review what it can access
- Ask normally and ChatGPT can use the relevant capability
Availability: Plugin access varies by plan; Skills are generally available in Enterprise and Edu
ImprovedOfficial source checked04Voice, now with context
GPT-Live makes interruptions and turn-taking more natural. Voice can now work with uploaded files and inside Projects.
What it could do
Talk through a report while commuting, ask for the key risks, then challenge the conclusions without touching the keyboard.
Get started
- Select the Voice icon in a chat or Project
- Upload or choose the file you want to discuss
- Speak naturally and interrupt when you want to redirect
Try this
“Talk me through the three most important findings in this report. Pause after each one so I can ask questions.”
Availability: Voice is broadly available; model, file and Work access vary by plan and workspace
ImprovedOfficial source checked05Scheduled tasks
ChatGPT can run reminders, recurring work and monitoring checks. A dedicated Scheduled page makes tasks easier to manage.
What it could do
Check every weekday morning for meaningful AI product updates and only notify you when something has changed.
Get started
- Ask ChatGPT to do something later or repeatedly
- Specify the time, cadence or condition
- Review and manage it from Scheduled in the sidebar
Try this
“Every Friday morning, summarise the important AI product changes from the week and explain what matters for a non-technical business audience.”
Availability: Plus, Pro, Business and Enterprise; limits vary by tier
ImprovedOfficial source checked06Library and saved files
Uploaded and generated files can be saved, found and reused. Recent files can be added from the composer without uploading again.
What it could do
Reuse last month’s strategy document in a new conversation and ask for an updated client summary.
Get started
- Open Library in the sidebar
- Search or browse for a saved file
- Use Add from library in the composer to bring it into a chat
Try this
“Use my saved strategy document as the source. Summarise the decisions and flag anything that now needs updating.”
Availability: Available across plans; storage allowance varies
ImprovedOfficial source checked07Search across your work
One search can find chats, Projects, images, documents and folders, with filters to narrow the results.
What it could do
Find the conversation where you agreed the pricing for a client workshop, even if you cannot remember the chat title.
Get started
- Use Search from the sidebar
- Enter a distinctive phrase, topic or client name
- Filter by chat, Project, image or document
Availability: All plans on web, iOS and Android
ImprovedOfficial source checked08Memory with clearer controls
Memory is designed to stay fresher and reduce contradictions. You can inspect, correct or delete its summary, or delete it and turn memory off.
What it could do
ChatGPT remembers your preferred tone and working constraints, so you spend less time repeating them.
Get started
- Go to Settings, then Personalisation or Memory
- Review the memory summary and correct anything stale
- Use Temporary Chat when you do not want a conversation remembered
Try this
“Before answering, use what you know about my preferred tone and working style. Tell me if an assumption may be out of date.”
Availability: Rolling out across plans and countries
NewOfficial source checked09Interactive charts in answers
ChatGPT can turn suitable answers into interactive bar, line, pie and scatter charts directly in the conversation.
What it could do
Upload campaign results and compare monthly leads, cost per lead and conversion rate in one visual view.
Get started
- Upload or paste clean data
- Say what comparison or decision the chart should support
- Ask ChatGPT to verify calculations and explain the pattern
Try this
“Check these figures, then create the clearest interactive chart to compare performance by month. Explain why you chose that chart type.”
Availability: Web, iOS and Android
NewOfficial source checked10Full-screen writing and notes
Long-form writing can open in a focused editor with headings, navigation, download, undo and redo. Selected text can become a new note or Library item.
What it could do
Draft a report, edit it in a clean writing view and save the approved version for reuse.
Get started
- Ask for a complete long-form draft
- Open the writing block in full screen
- Edit, download or save it to Library
Availability: Full-screen writing on web; Library access varies by plan
ImprovedOfficial source checked11Connected app actions
With Gmail or Outlook connected, ChatGPT can draft and send email from a conversation. Permission controls let you decide when it must ask first.
What it could do
Draft a follow-up from meeting notes, show it for approval, then send it without switching tabs.
Get started
- Connect Gmail or Outlook from Settings, then Apps
- Choose your preferred action-confirmation level
- Ask for a draft and review it before sending
Try this
“Draft a short follow-up email from these notes. Show me the final text and wait for my approval before sending it.”
Availability: Email sending on web for Plus, Pro, Business and Enterprise
NewOfficial source checked12ChatGPT inside Office tools
ChatGPT is available as a sidebar in Excel, Google Sheets and PowerPoint, so it can work on editable files in place.
What it could do
Clean a multi-tab sales tracker, explain the formulas and turn the findings into an editable presentation.
Get started
- Install the official add-in from Microsoft or Google Marketplace
- Sign in with your ChatGPT account
- Open a file and describe the change you want
Try this
“Review this workbook for formula errors and inconsistent categories. Explain each proposed change before applying it.”
Availability: Globally available, subject to plan limits and workspace settings
ChangedOfficial source checked13Simpler model and thinking controls
The model picker now focuses on effort levels such as Instant, Medium and High. GPT-5.6 adds a slider for how much thought to use.
What it could do
Use Instant for a quick rewrite, then switch to High for a decision with several competing constraints.
Get started
- Open the model control beside the composer
- Choose faster for simple work or more thought for complex work
- State the outcome and constraints clearly either way
Availability: Options vary by plan; updated GPT-5.6 Sol is for Plus and Pro
ImprovedOfficial source checked14Codex remote and computer use
Codex work can be started, checked and redirected from the ChatGPT mobile app. Windows computer use and remote control also arrived.
What it could do
Start a website fix on your computer, review progress from your phone and approve the next step while away from your desk.
Get started
- Update the ChatGPT and desktop apps
- Pair your mobile device with the host computer
- Start or continue a Codex thread from mobile
Availability: Remote is broadly available; some computer-use features exclude the UK at launch
NewOfficial source checked15Security and session controls
Active sessions lets you inspect and end account sessions. Lockdown Mode restricts web-connected capabilities to reduce prompt-injection risk.
What it could do
Check whether an unfamiliar device is signed in, then end that session without logging out everywhere.
Get started
- Open Settings, then Security
- Review Active sessions and sign out anything unfamiliar
- Consider Lockdown Mode for sensitive, self-contained work
Availability: Active sessions is rolling out; Lockdown Mode is available to logged-in users
ImprovedOfficial source checked16Cleaner handling of large pastes
Text over 10,000 characters is converted into an attachment, keeping the composer usable and preserving more room for the conversation.
What it could do
Paste a long transcript and ask for decisions and actions without filling the message box with pages of text.
Get started
- Paste the long text as normal
- Let ChatGPT convert it into an attachment
- Add a precise instruction describing the output you need
Try this
“Extract decisions, owners, deadlines and unresolved questions from this transcript. Do not invent missing details.”
Availability: All plans
NewOfficial source checked17Specialist search experiences
New guided experiences cover live jobs, CV formatting, personal finance, Health and restaurant reservations, but several are region-limited.
What it could do
Find suitable live roles and tailor an existing CV to the strongest one, or compare available restaurant bookings conversationally.
Get started
- Ask naturally and include your location and constraints
- Check the availability label before relying on a specialist experience
- Verify important health, finance and employment decisions independently
Availability: CV formatting is global; jobs, Finance and Health are mainly US-only; reservations vary by provider and region
ChangedOfficial source checked18Canvas and older model retirements
GPT-4.5 and GPT-5.2 left ChatGPT, o3 is due to retire, and the official DALL·E GPT is being replaced by ChatGPT Images. Canvas moved out of current GPT-5.5 models.
What it could do
Continue an older conversation using its successor model, and create new imagery through ChatGPT Images rather than the DALL·E GPT.
Get started
- Check model settings if an old workflow behaves differently
- Move reusable instructions into a Project, GPT or saved prompt
- Download any DALL·E GPT images you need before retirement
Availability: Model availability varies by plan; DALL·E GPT retirement announced for 30 August 2026
Skip the feature tourism
Start with a useful job
You do not need to try everything. Pick the route closest to a real piece of work you already have.
I repeat this every week
Start with Scheduled tasks. Choose one briefing, reminder or check that already has a clear cadence.
See automation featuresI have too much source material
Start with Library, search and Projects. Bring the right context together before asking for an output.
See organisation featuresI need a finished deliverable
Start with Work. Define the outcome, provide the evidence and stay involved at decision points.
See creation featuresI need better insight from data
Start with interactive charts. Ask for verification first, then the visual that best supports the decision.
See analysis featuresOne sensible rule
New capability does not remove the need for judgement.
Check important facts, review actions before they happen and use the simplest feature that solves the problem. A shiny new button is not a strategy.
Behind the site
The prompt that started it
This was the original brief used to create the first version of this guide.
“Make me a @Sites about all the function changes to ChatGPT in the last 3 months. Provide a summary guide of each function of ChatGPT, an example of what it can do and ‘get started’ guide.”