OpenAI says old prompts are holding GPT-5.5 back and developers need a fresh baseline

THE DECODER / 4/26/2026

📰 NewsTools & Practical UsageModels & Research

Key Points

  • OpenAI argues that carrying over older prompts is limiting performance with GPT-5.5 and recommends starting fresh rather than reusing historical prompt patterns.
  • The guidance emphasizes using a minimal baseline at the beginning, then building up instructions as needed for the task.
  • OpenAI says explicit role definitions—previously dismissed by some developers—should be brought back to the prompt framework.
  • The recommendation is aimed at helping developers get more reliable, improved behavior from GPT-5.5 by resetting how instructions are structured.

OpenAI says developers shouldn't carry over old prompts for GPT-5.5. Instead, start minimal and from scratch. Role definitions, which some had written off as unnecessary, are back at the front of the framework.

The article OpenAI says old prompts are holding GPT-5.5 back and developers need a fresh baseline appeared first on The Decoder.