What happened
OpenAI has updated ChatGPT to allow users to stop the chatbot from using em dashes in its responses. Sam Altman announced the change after users complained about the punctuation being a telltale sign of AI-generated text. The update lets users control em dash usage through custom instructions.
Why it matters
- The change makes it harder to identify text written by ChatGPT based on em dash use.
- Writers can now customize ChatGPTâs output to match their preferred style.
- The update is part of broader efforts to make ChatGPT more customizable for users.
Key facts
- 1. The update was announced by Sam Altman on November 14, 2025.
- 2. Users can now instruct ChatGPT not to use em dashes via custom instructions.
- 3. The em dash had become a widely recognized hallmark of ChatGPT-generated text.
