OpenAI announced that it will soon remove the message limits for free and Go users in plain-text conversations. Starting August 10 (today), local time, free and Go account users will no longer be subject to message caps when engaging in ordinary text chats and will be able to continue text conversations.
However, this does not mean that the free version of ChatGPT will have no restrictions at all. Image generation, file uploads, and voice mode will still have their own separate usage quotas. Therefore, whenever users add files or images to a conversation, the related requests will still be subject to quota limits.
At the same time, OpenAI will also adjust the default model used by free and Go users. Starting this week, GPT-5.6 Luna, currently the smallest model in the product lineup, will replace GPT-5.5 Instant as the default model for free and Go accounts.
In addition, ChatGPT will introduce a new “Think” button, allowing Luna to spend more computational time before answering questions and generate more in-depth responses. This feature will likewise be unrestricted in plain-text scenarios, but if it is used together with other features such as images or files, it will again be subject to quota limits.
OpenAI has also made corresponding upgrades for Plus and Pro subscribers. The flagship model GPT-5.6 Sol will further improve the everyday conversation experience, including making responses more natural, reducing unnecessary formatting, and enhancing its ability to express disagreement when necessary instead of simply catering to users.
Paid users will also receive a new “thinking intensity” adjustment option, allowing them to control how much reasoning resources ChatGPT devotes to each response, similar to the computational-depth settings offered by other AI products.
According to OpenAI’s official statement, the core goal of these adjustments is to promote broader AI adoption and enable more users to use ChatGPT in the way they expect. At the same time, this strategy may also help strengthen the retention of free users and reduce the likelihood that they will switch to competing products such as Gemini and Claude.