OpenAI launches Images 2.6 with GIF creation and faster speeds

Faster generation and new motion

OpenAI has officially released Images 2.6, a model update integrated into ChatGPT, Codex, and its API. According to The Times of India, the primary goal of this update is to provide users with faster generation times and improved editing tools. The new model is reportedly 50% faster than its predecessor, allowing for a quicker turnaround on visual content.

One of the most notable additions in this release is the ability to create animated GIFs. This feature allows users to transform static images into short, looping animations. It is designed to help creators produce various types of content, ranging from social media reactions and memes to brand mascots.

Beyond simple social media content, the GIF feature serves practical purposes for production teams. Creators can use these animations to develop storyboards before moving into full video production. It also allows for the transformation of simple sketches into animated characters, expanding the ways users can interact with the tool.

Professional consistency and tools

The Images 2.6 model is specifically designed to handle professional visuals such as advertisements, posters, and product images. A key challenge in AI image generation is maintaining consistency, but this update aims to keep characters, products, and brand details stable across multiple edits. This is particularly useful for companies that need to maintain a specific brand identity.

To help achieve this, the update includes new controls for image creation and editing. Developers using the API can now utilize image markup to identify specific areas of a picture that require changes. This level of precision allows for more targeted modifications rather than regenerating an entire image to fix one small detail.

For those working on web or print projects, the model now supports exporting designs in SVG format. SVG is a scalable vector graphics format, which means the images can be resized without losing quality. This makes the tool more viable for designers who need to integrate AI-generated assets into apps, websites, and physical print materials.

Two paths for API developers

For developers using the OpenAI API, the company is introducing two distinct versions of the model to meet different needs. These are named GPT-Image-2.6 Flare and GPT-Image-2.6 Sunburst. Each version is optimized for a different priority, allowing developers to choose between speed and high-fidelity output depending on their specific project requirements.

The Flare version is built for speed and is intended for users who need images quickly. Under low quality settings, Flare can produce an image in as little as six seconds. This makes it an ideal choice for applications where rapid iteration or real-time generation is more important than perfect visual detail.

In contrast, the Sunburst version focuses on high-quality output and improved consistency. It is specifically tuned for medium and high quality settings where the user needs a more polished result. By offering these two paths, OpenAI is giving developers more control over the trade-off between how much planning the model uses for a task and the final visual result.

Global availability and scale

Images 2.6 is now available globally across all subscription tiers for ChatGPT and Codex. Users can access the new features on desktop, mobile, and web platforms. This means that both casual users and enterprise customers can begin using the faster generation and GIF tools immediately.

The scale of image generation is already significant, with OpenAI reporting that people around the world generate about 4 billion images every week. This volume is spread across ChatGPT, Codex, and the API, totaling more than 500 million images created each day on average. The new update aims to streamline this high-volume output for a wider variety of use cases.

By providing more control over the generation process, OpenAI is moving toward a more sophisticated toolset for creators. The update is intended to help users refine visuals faster while giving developers the technical levers they need to build complex applications. This shift suggests a focus on making AI a more reliable partner in the professional design and marketing pipeline.