Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETZDNET’s key takeaways:OpenAI launched ChatGPT customization updates.Users can choose chat color and personality.All users (even free) can now access Advanced Voice Mode.OpenAI is having one of its biggest product launch weeks, releasing its highly anticipated open-source models, gpt-oss-120b and gpt-oss-20b, and GPT-5. Buried within the deluge of the large language models (LLMs) are helpful ChatGPT features that add customization options that could make the ChatGPT experience more enjoyable. Also: GPT-5 is finally here, and you can access it for free today – no subscription neededIn OpenAI’s Summer Update event on Thursday, the company added the ability to choose a color for ChatGPT chats, choose from new personalities when using the Custom Instructions feature, more easily connect your Google productivity apps, and better interact with Advanced Voice Mode. Keep reading below for the full overview of the features’ capabilities and how to access them. ChatGPT chat color optionsStarting with perhaps the most self-explanatory feature, you can now choose a color for your chats. This option is available to everyone, but a few exclusive options are available for paid users. While this won’t largely change your productivity within ChatGPT, it can make the experience more enjoyable or better match your aesthetic preferences. New personalities in Custom Instructions.Custom Instructions, launched in April 2023, lets users set preferences that tailor how ChatGPT generates responses. Now, OpenAI has launched a research preview of four preset personalities: Cynic, Robot, Listener, and Nerd, available in the Custom Instructions experience. The personalities tweak how ChatGPT interacts with users, giving the chatbot different tones that better match your needs and communication styles. For example, OpenAI said some are concise and professional, while others are a bit sarcastic. The personalities are available to all users, opt-in, and adjustable anytime in your Customize ChatGPT settings. More