OpenAI released Images 2.6 on November 4, promising image generation that is 50% faster, animated GIF creation, and more precise editing. The upgrade is available in ChatGPT and Codex, with two new models for developers.
GPT-Image-2.6 Flare focuses on speed. At low quality, OpenAI says it can generate an image in as little as six seconds. Sunburst targets more detailed visuals and greater consistency across edits, so products and characters retain their defining features.
GIF creation is another notable addition. Creators can animate mascots, turn sketches into moving characters, or make looping graphics for social campaigns without building a separate video-production workflow.
For developers, the API now supports markup-guided edits, SVG exports, and a complexity setting that controls how much planning goes into a generation or edit. Image quality and complexity can be adjusted separately.
OpenAI says Images 2.6 is available globally across all ChatGPT and Codex subscription tiers, while Flare and Sunburst are available through the API. The practical bet is fewer creative restarts: produce a draft quickly, change the parts that need work, and preserve the details that already look right.
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