OpenAI launches GPT-6 Astra for ChatGPT and Codex

OpenAI said GPT-6 Astra is state-of-the-art on computer use, browsing, software engineering, cybersecurity, science, and professional work. It reported that GPT-6 Astra scores 98 percent on FrontierMath Tier 4, 99.9 percent on ARC-AGI-3, and 100 percent on ExploitBench, and said the model has helped solve long-standing open problems in mathematics.

“GPT‑6 Astra pairs advances in computer use with targeted training for professional environments, to help tackle complex work tasks,” the company said. “It combines the intelligence required for complex problems with the ability to carry out multistep workflows and produce polished documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.” OpenAI also called Astra “the best model for software engineering to date.”

For Codex, GPT-6 Astra adds a way to preserve and retrieve context when the context window fills. According to OpenAI, earlier models used compaction to summarize work during long sessions, which could drop details about why a fix failed or how a component behaves. Astra can keep notes across context windows without repeatedly compressing them, while older context windows remain searchable, allowing requirements or test results from previous messages and tool outputs to be found. The experimental feature is optional in Codex and will become the default for Astra in the coming weeks.

OpenAI described GPT-6 Astra as a “significant jump in cyber capabilities” that “meets the Critical threshold in cybersecurity under our Preparedness Framework.” The company said the model is rolling out slowly for that reason. “GPT‑6 Astra is rolling out today to a limited set of organizations,” OpenAI said. Astra usage is included in existing subscription allowances, and users and businesses can purchase credits for additional usage. Pro, Business, and Enterprise plans also receive GPT-6 Astra Pro; enterprise administrators can enable it for their workspace, but access is off by default at launch.

The release follows more than a year of GPT-5 variants. GPT-5 launched Aug. 7, 2025, as ChatGPT’s default model, and Apple adopted it across iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe 26, replacing GPT-4o for Siri handoffs, Writing Tools, and visual intelligence. OpenAI later released GPT-5.1, GPT-5.2, GPT-5.3 Instant, GPT-5.4 Thinking, GPT-5.4 mini and nano, GPT-5.4-Cyber, GPT-5.5, GPT-5.5 Instant, and GPT-5.6 Sol, Terra, and Luna in July. In February, OpenAI launched a dedicated Codex Mac app for running coding agents, reviewing changes, and scheduling work. By July, Codex became the new ChatGPT desktop app combining Chat, Work, and Codex, and the previous native client was renamed ChatGPT Classic.