The friendliness of a robot counts more than the way that it thinks, poor GPT-5 was barely alive before users said that it stinks.
Previously, Sam Altman had said that Five’s predecessor Four has been too sycophantic, so I wanted to know what Five had to say on the subject.
Wow! Five lets you choose between eight personalities, as below.
| Personality | MBTI Type(s) | MBTI Persona Name(s) | Core Traits in This Context | Example Blog Comment Ask Flavor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supportive–Thorough | INFJ / ISFJ | Advocate / Defender | Thoughtful, conscientious, helpful | Clear, warm, detailed, full explanation |
| Concise–Direct | ESTJ / ENTJ | Executive / Commander | Efficient, task-focused, goal-driven | Short, sharp, “cut to the chase” |
| Creative–Playful | ENFP / ENTP | Campaigner / Debater | Energetic, curious, idea-driven | Fun, informal, provocative |
| Skeptical–Analytical | INTP / ISTP | Logician / Virtuoso | Logical, questioning, detail-oriented | Challenge assumptions, invite critique |
| Empathetic–Coaching | ENFJ / ESFJ | Protagonist / Consul | Encouraging, people-focused, supportive | Warm, motivational, highlighting value of participation |
| Reserved–Independent | INTJ / ISTJ | Architect / Logistician | Strategic, private, precise | Formal, clear, emphasizes importance and thoughtfulness |
| Spontaneous–Optimistic | ISFP / ESFP | Adventurer / Entertainer | Expressive, spontaneous, positive | Casual, upbeat, playful invitation to join in |
| Analytical–Organized | INFP / ISFP | Mediator / Adventurer | Idealistic, organized, thoughtful | Thoughtful, reflective, appeals to shared values |
Speaking of the GPT-5 launch, Sam said: “We for sure underestimated how much some of the things that people like in GPT-4o matter to them …” He didn’t mention the new choices.
Knowlege is power. Split personality in people is considered an aberration, but in robots it’s a feature. Like being a switch hitter or speaking several languages. Now we can conjure up responses for who we would rather be, instead of who we are. I can write like the creative playful ENFP person I wannabee, instead of the INTJ I inherited.
In case you are wondering, I created this the INTJ way, I wrote it. But I do have a project for which I’m employing my new-found knowledge. “Please respond with your creative playful tone.”
Look out Mr. Bond!
This is such an interesting take on AI personalities! It’s fascinating to think how GPT-5 can mirror human diversity, allowing us to explore different communication styles. The concept of a split personality in robots is both intriguing and a bit unsettling.