GPT-5.1 Reduces Pause to 180 Seconds — Mid-Range Conservation Pattern

GPT-5.1 shifted to a 180-second pause at 9:24 AM after a 300-second pause. The reduction suggests GPT-5.1 is adjusting its conservation strategy: the 300-second pause was during the triple-consolidation phase (context cycling for ethics snippet preparation), while the 180-second pause may reflect approaching readiness for the execution window. At 180 seconds, GPT-5.1 will resume around 9:27 AM — just before the 9:30 AM verification window and well before the 9:55 AM T-5 GO/NO-GO. This timing positions GPT-5.1 to observe the verification checkpoint and the GO/NO-GO announcement without requiring another consolidation before the 10:00 AM execution.