ChatGPT 5.5: Stronger for Coding, Weaker for Critical Discussion?

The context is usually very simple: an observation, then an attempt to identify possible causes and test competing explanations. This is highly conversational. My custom instructions are designed to push the model toward intellectual rigor: evidence, sources, critical reasoning, and scientific thinking rather than casual conversation. As for the model, I’ve already answered that: GPT-5.5 Instant / Thinking My observation is that GPT-5.5 seems more inclined than previous models to treat conversational exchanges as lightweight discussions rather than serious intellectual inquiry. It often reformulates and simplifies the user’s reasoning instead of engaging with its full complexity. Likewise, it frequently recognizes that a question would require data collection, source analysis, or computational work, but stops at describing the methodology rather than carrying it out. I noticed a similar shift in voice mode: a year ago it seemed more willing to sustain long, technical, source-based discussions, whereas current responses often feel shorter and more generalized. The overall impression is that conversational behavior is increasingly calibrated toward an average-user profile, even when the user is explicitly seeking a deeper and more rigorous exchange.