Sam Altman says OpenAI has a fix for a telltale sign that you used ChatGPT
In a recent update, OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman announced a significant change to ChatGPT’s writing style, allowing users to eliminate the use of em dashes in generated text. This decision comes after a wave of user feedback expressing concerns over the chatbot’s distinctive punctuation style, which some users felt made their writing less authentic. The em dash, often used to create emphasis or indicate a pause, has become a defining feature of ChatGPT’s output. However, for those wary of being identified as users of the AI, the presence of this punctuation mark was seen as a potential giveaway. Altman celebrated the update as a “small-but-happy win,” emphasizing that users can now specify their preferences more effectively.
This change is part of OpenAI’s broader initiative to enhance customization within ChatGPT, which includes features like “memory” and the ability to create custom GPTs. These advancements allow users to tailor the chatbot’s responses to better suit their needs, such as remembering specific formatting preferences or personal details for future interactions. While this recent update addresses the em dash issue, Altman did not provide information on whether further changes would be made to tackle other recognizable traits in ChatGPT’s writing, such as the use of clichéd phrases. As AI-generated text becomes increasingly prevalent, these enhancements are poised to make it even more challenging to discern AI-generated content from human writing, further blurring the lines between the two.
With this latest update, OpenAI continues to respond to user feedback, demonstrating its commitment to refining the user experience. As the customization capabilities of ChatGPT expand, users can expect a more personalized interaction that aligns closely with their individual writing styles and preferences. This evolution not only enhances user satisfaction but also addresses the growing concerns surrounding the authenticity of AI-generated text in various contexts, from professional writing to casual communication.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
OpenAI updated ChatGPT to let users avoid em dashes in generated text — a hallmark of the chatbot.
Sam Altman announced the change after users complained about ChatGPT’s writing style.
The update is part of ongoing efforts to make ChatGPT more customizable for users.
It’s about to become harder to spot when someone has used ChatGPT.
Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, said the chatbot would no longer use the em dash — a hallmark of its
writing style
— if a user requested it.
“If you tell ChatGPT not to use em-dashes in your custom instructions, it finally does what it’s supposed to do!” Altman said in an
X post
Thursday night.
Some users have complained that ChatGPT would ignore their requests to avoid the elongated dash. The punctuation is popular among writers to signal surprise or contrast — but some have stopped using it because they fear being
accused of using ChatGPT
.
Altman described the update as a “small-but-happy win.”
Small-but-happy win:
If you tell ChatGPT not to use em-dashes in your custom instructions, it finally does what it’s supposed to do!
— Sam Altman (@sama)
November 14, 2025
The update comes as OpenAI continues to make ChatGPT more customizable with features like “memory” and custom GPTs. Users can ask the chatbot to
remember specific details
, such as formatting, and the bot will bring them into future interactions.
ChatGPT has other telltale signs, such as using clichéd phrases, but Altman did not say if there would be any updates to address those.
Read the original article on
Business Insider
Eric
Eric is a seasoned journalist covering Business news.
