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The latest image model adds one-step animated GIF creation, two new developer APIs, and arrives as weekly image generation tops 4 billion
OpenAI has made Images 2.6 available worldwide in ChatGPT and Codex. The model reaches every subscription tier, from free users to paying ones, on web, desktop, and mobile.
The headline feature is animated GIFs, generated in a single step. Users can generate them from either a text prompt or an uploaded photo, and the model returns a looping animation.
Users also get controls once the GIF exists. They can adjust playback speed and edit individual frames.
The update also improves overall image generation speed compared with earlier versions.
The rollout began gradually on November 4, 2026, without a formal announcement from OpenAI. Availability now spans all tiers and platforms in both ChatGPT and Codex.
Two new APIs for developers #
Developers get their own pair of options. OpenAI launched two API variants, each tuned for a different priority.
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GPT-Image-2.6 Flare is optimized for speed. GPT-Image-2.6 Sunburst is focused on output quality. This dual-model approach is not new for OpenAI. The previous release, Images 2.5, also shipped with two API models.
The usage numbers #
OpenAI reported that weekly image generation volume has passed 4 billion. That compares with 3 billion in September 2026.
How we got here #
Images 2.6 caps a busy year for OpenAI’s image products. Images 2 arrived in April, bringing higher resolution and stronger design features.
Images 2.5 followed on September 8, 2026. That version delivered sharper details and cut latency by up to 50%, alongside its two API models.
Images 2.6 now extends the line from still images into animation.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Diego Almada Lopez. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.