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GPT 5.1 Thinking

GPT 5.1 Thinking is the reasoning-focused member of the GPT-5.1 family, applying extended chain-of-thought computation to produce more thorough and accurate responses on complex analytical, scientific, and multi-step problems.

Tool UseImplicit CachingFile InputReasoningVision (Image)Web Search Image Gen
index.ts
import { streamText } from 'ai'
const result = streamText({
model: 'openai/gpt-5.1-thinking',
prompt: 'Why is the sky blue?'
})

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How does GPT 5.1 Thinking reasoning work?

    It generates internal reasoning tokens that work through the problem step by step before producing a visible response, similar to the approach used in o-series reasoning models.

  • When should I use thinking versus instant?

    Use thinking for complex analysis, math, science, and hard coding problems where accuracy is the priority. Use instant for real-time chat, streaming content, and tasks where speed is the priority.

  • Is GPT 5.1 Thinking slower than GPT-5.1 instant?

    Yes. The extended reasoning process adds time before the first visible output. The tradeoff is deeper, more accurate reasoning on complex problems.

  • What context window does GPT 5.1 Thinking support?

    400K tokens, supporting the lengthy inputs that complex reasoning tasks often require.

  • How does AI Gateway handle authentication for GPT 5.1 Thinking?

    AI Gateway accepts a single API key or OIDC token for all requests. You don't embed OpenAI credentials in your application; AI Gateway routes and authenticates on your behalf.

  • What are typical latency characteristics?

    This page shows live throughput and time-to-first-token metrics measured across real AI Gateway traffic.