OpenAI launches Images 2.6 with GIF creation and faster image-generation API models

Open article · Retrieved 2026-11-05T00:26:48.037869+00:00

November 4, 2026

[Product](https://openai.com/news/product-releases/)[Release](https://openai.com/research/index/release/)

# Introducing Images 2.6

Generate images faster and with more control over editing rounds.

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We’re introducing Images 2.6 in ChatGPT, Codex, and the API, bringing your ideas to life faster. With this, you can bring motion to your images with GIFs — from animating a brand mascot or character to turning a product shot into an eye-catching loop. You can also create polished visuals faster and refine them with greater precision — keeping characters, products, and brand details consistent as you edit.

People around the world now create 4 billion images per week across ChatGPT, Codex, and the API. On average, that’s more than half a billion images created per day.

## Faster iteration and more professional visuals

Images 2.6 generates images 50% faster than before. In the API, we offer GPT‑Image‑2.6 Flare and Sunburst for developers to choose from. When quality is set to low, Flare can generate images in as little as six seconds. For work that calls for greater detail and precision, GPT‑Image‑2.6 Sunburst brings higher-quality image generation and even greater image consistency across edits when quality is set to medium or high. Flare also improves layout quality for posters, product imagery, and other professional visuals.

## Animate your ideas with GIFs

For moments that call for motion, GIFs bring another dimension to your ideas. Marketers and creators can animate a brand mascot for a campaign, create reactions and memes for social media, or use animated storyboards to explore character movement before video production.

*Created by OpenArt*

**Prompt 1****:** Create a single animation sprite sheet for a seamless looping GIF. A super-cute chibi adult office worker sits at a desk watching a computer monitor with a clearly plunging stock-market line chart. The sequence: hopeful expression, notices the chart falling, eyes widen, face crumples, large cartoon tears stream down both cheeks, then quietly wipes tears while still staring at the falling chart. Oversized round head, tiny body, big expressive eyes, soft rounded features, messy fluffy hair, white shirt and loosened tie. Exactly 6 sequential frames arranged in a precise 3-column by 2-row grid, read left-to-right then top-to-bottom. Every panel has identical dimensions. Fixed front three-quarter camera, same character, same desk, monitor, outfit, and cozy miniature office background. Clear incremental facial and tear motion; sixth frame transitions smoothly toward the first. Polished kawaii chibi 3D toy-like style, warm pastel lighting, funny and sympathetic mood. No captions, no words, no numbers, no logos, no speech bubbles, no panel labels, no borders, no gutters.

*Created by OpenArt*

**Prompt 2:** Create a single animation sprite sheet for a seamless looping GIF. A super-cute chibi adult office worker sits at a desk watching a computer monitor with a clearly soaring stock-market line chart and a large upward arrow. The sequence: notices the chart rising, eyes widen with delight, jumps up cheering, grabs a handful of generic paper banknotes with no readable currency markings, then happily tosses the banknotes into the air like confetti while laughing. Oversized round head, tiny body, big sparkling expressive eyes, soft rounded features, messy fluffy hair, white shirt and loosened tie. Exactly 6 sequential frames arranged in a precise 3-column by 2-row grid, read left-to-right then top-to-bottom. Every panel has identical dimensions. Fixed front three-quarter camera, same character, desk, monitor, outfit, and cozy miniature office background. Clear incremental body, arm, and flying-paper motion; sixth frame transitions smoothly toward the first. Polished kawaii chibi 3D toy-like style, bright celebratory pastel lighting, funny joyful mood. No captions, no words, no numbers, no logos, no real currency symbols, no speech bubbles, no panel labels, no borders, no gutters.

> “GIFs are the native language of social media, and GPT‑Image‑2.6 lets every OpenArt creator speak it fluently from a single prompt.”

—Coco Mao, CEO & Co-founder at OpenArt

And you don’t need a polished design to get started — even a simple sketch can become an expressive, animated character for videos, games, and more.

An owl drawn in pen on lined paper.

From personal reactions to brand mascots and product visuals, GIFs give people and businesses a playful way to communicate. Town, a startup building an AI work assistant, used Images 2.6 in the API to explore how animated characters could bring more personality to everyday interactions at work.

## More ways to create and edit in the API

With Images 2.6, developers get more control over how images are created, edited, and carried into the next stage of a project. Image markup, already available in ChatGPT, comes to the API so teams can pinpoint exactly where to make specific changes. SVG exports make designs ready to use across websites, apps, and print.

A new complexity parameter lets developers adjust how much planning the model does to meet a request, with lower settings suited to quick edits. Image quality controls visual detail and fidelity, while complexity guides how much goes into the scene.

> “GPT‑Image‑2.6 brings speed and creative control together, helping you generate and edit images while preserving the details that define a character, product, or brand. We’re excited to add it to Figma Weave, giving teams another powerful model for creative production, all within a reusable workflow.”

—Itay Schiff, Creative Director at Figma Weave

For most editing tasks, we recommend low complexity for faster edits, paired with the image quality your workflow requires. For scenes with many elements or constraints, try medium or high complexity effort.

See what early access customers generated using Images 2.6:

> “At Picsart, we see how much creators value being able to generate an image fast. OpenAI’s new 2.6 model brings more accurate results, better character consistency, and faster generations. Paired with Picsart’s advanced editing tools, it gives our users more time to experiment, refine details, and turn one idea into a whole social campaign.”

—Davit Avoyan, Director GTM at Picsart

A giant multicolored glass whale floats above misty mountains beside a stone chapel at sunset.

## Pricing and availability

Images 2.6 is available globally today in ChatGPT and Codex across all subscription tiers on desktop, mobile, and web.

GPT‑Image‑2.6 Sunburst and GPT‑Image‑2.6 Flare are available in the API. See [pricing details here.⁠(opens in a new window)](https://developers.openai.com/api/docs/pricing#image-generation)

Learn more about our safety evaluations and safeguards for Images 2.6 in the system card.

- [2026](https://openai.com/news/?tags=2026)
- [API](https://openai.com/news/?tags=api)

## Author

OpenAI

## Keep reading

[View all](https://openai.com/news/)

Sunlight illuminates Earth against a starry sky.

[Introducing GPT-6.1 Terra

ProductOct 26, 2026](https://openai.com/index/introducing-gpt-6-1-terra/)

Build more responsive apps with the Decisions API — Cover

[Build more responsive apps with the Decisions API

ProductOct 22, 2026](https://openai.com/index/decisions-api/)

LifeVal — Cover

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Open article · Retrieved 2026-11-05T00:26:36.831888+00:00

# OpenAI launches ChatGPT Images 2.6 with GIFs, reference images and faster API models

**The November 4th release brings GIFs, reusable reference images and editable frames to ChatGPT and Codex, plus two API models with 50% faster image generation and Flare output in as little as six seconds.**

By [Ryan Merket](https://runtimewire.com/author/ryan-merket)
· Published Nov 4th, 2026, 5:38pm CT
· Updated Nov 4th, 2026, 5:41pm CT

Primary source: [openai.com](https://openai.com/index/introducing-images-2-6/)

## Why it matters

Images are already one of ChatGPT's highest-volume uses, and OpenAI says that volume reached 4 billion images per week across ChatGPT, Codex and the API. GIFs, saved references and frame editing push that traffic from one-off generation toward repeatable creative work, where consistency and export formats decide whether output can be used in campaigns, products and apps. For developers, Flare and Sunburst turn speed and edit consistency into explicit API choices, giving OpenAI a way to serve fast draft generation and higher-value production work from the same image stack.

A person holds a tablet while viewing a large koi fish artwork in an art studio, with “Rw” on the glass.

[![[OpenAI launches ChatGPT Images 2.6 with GIFs, reference images and faster API models](https://runtimewire.com/api/storage/uploads/tweet-videos/openai-chatgpt-images-2-6-gifs-flare-sunburst-api-9b2fc2f1.mp4?generation=1793835468522630)](https://runtimewire.com/api/storage/uploads/hero-images/openai-openai-images-upgraded-introducing-chatgpt-images-2-6-now-with-gifs-and-r-e88fdd9f.png)](https://runtimewire.com/api/storage/uploads/tweet-videos/openai-chatgpt-images-2-6-gifs-flare-sunburst-api-9b2fc2f1.mp4?generation=1793835468522630)

OpenAI launched ChatGPT Images 2.6 on November 4th, adding GIF creation and reusable reference images to ChatGPT and Codex and releasing two related models for developers through its API. OpenAI said Images 2.6 is available globally across all subscription tiers on desktop, mobile and web. The release also gives developers [GPT-Image-2.6 Flare](https://runtimewire.com/models/native-openai/gpt-image-2.6-flare-33a295fe58084f83) for faster generation and [GPT-Image-2.6 Sunburst](https://runtimewire.com/models/native-openai/gpt-image-2.6-sunburst-05436c2d3447a27c) for higher-quality output and consistency across edits.…

When you purchase through links in our articles, [we may earn a small commission](https://runtimewire.com/affiliate-monetization-standards). This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

Open article · Retrieved 2026-11-05T00:26:49.211455+00:00

# OpenAI launches ChatGPT Images 2.6 with GIFs, reference images and faster API models

**The November 4th release brings GIFs, reusable reference images and editable frames to ChatGPT and Codex, plus two API models with 50% faster image generation and Flare output in as little as six seconds.**

By [Ryan Merket](https://runtimewire.com/author/ryan-merket)
· Published Nov 4th, 2026, 5:38pm CT
· Updated Nov 4th, 2026, 5:41pm CT

Primary source: [openai.com](https://openai.com/index/introducing-images-2-6/)

## Why it matters

Images are already one of ChatGPT's highest-volume uses, and OpenAI says that volume reached 4 billion images per week across ChatGPT, Codex and the API. GIFs, saved references and frame editing push that traffic from one-off generation toward repeatable creative work, where consistency and export formats decide whether output can be used in campaigns, products and apps. For developers, Flare and Sunburst turn speed and edit consistency into explicit API choices, giving OpenAI a way to serve fast draft generation and higher-value production work from the same image stack.

A person holds a tablet while viewing a large koi fish artwork in an art studio, with “Rw” on the glass.

[![[OpenAI launches ChatGPT Images 2.6 with GIFs, reference images and faster API models](https://runtimewire.com/api/storage/uploads/tweet-videos/openai-chatgpt-images-2-6-gifs-flare-sunburst-api-9b2fc2f1.mp4?generation=1793835468522630)](https://runtimewire.com/api/storage/uploads/hero-images/openai-openai-images-upgraded-introducing-chatgpt-images-2-6-now-with-gifs-and-r-e88fdd9f.png)](https://runtimewire.com/api/storage/uploads/tweet-videos/openai-chatgpt-images-2-6-gifs-flare-sunburst-api-9b2fc2f1.mp4?generation=1793835468522630)

OpenAI launched ChatGPT Images 2.6 on November 4th, adding GIF creation and reusable reference images to ChatGPT and Codex and releasing two related models for developers through its API. OpenAI said Images 2.6 is available globally across all subscription tiers on desktop, mobile and web. The release also gives developers [GPT-Image-2.6 Flare](https://runtimewire.com/models/native-openai/gpt-image-2.6-flare-33a295fe58084f83) for faster generation and [GPT-Image-2.6 Sunburst](https://runtimewire.com/models/native-openai/gpt-image-2.6-sunburst-05436c2d3447a27c) for higher-quality output and consistency across edits.…

When you purchase through links in our articles, [we may earn a small commission](https://runtimewire.com/affiliate-monetization-standards). This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

Open article · Retrieved 2026-11-05T00:26:48.037869+00:00

November 4, 2026

[Product](https://openai.com/news/product-releases/)[Release](https://openai.com/research/index/release/)

# Introducing Images 2.6

Generate images faster and with more control over editing rounds.

Loading…

Share

We’re introducing Images 2.6 in ChatGPT, Codex, and the API, bringing your ideas to life faster. With this, you can bring motion to your images with GIFs — from animating a brand mascot or character to turning a product shot into an eye-catching loop. You can also create polished visuals faster and refine them with greater precision — keeping characters, products, and brand details consistent as you edit.

People around the world now create 4 billion images per week across ChatGPT, Codex, and the API. On average, that’s more than half a billion images created per day.

## Faster iteration and more professional visuals

Images 2.6 generates images 50% faster than before. In the API, we offer GPT‑Image‑2.6 Flare and Sunburst for developers to choose from. When quality is set to low, Flare can generate images in as little as six seconds. For work that calls for greater detail and precision, GPT‑Image‑2.6 Sunburst brings higher-quality image generation and even greater image consistency across edits when quality is set to medium or high. Flare also improves layout quality for posters, product imagery, and other professional visuals.

## Animate your ideas with GIFs

For moments that call for motion, GIFs bring another dimension to your ideas. Marketers and creators can animate a brand mascot for a campaign, create reactions and memes for social media, or use animated storyboards to explore character movement before video production.

*Created by OpenArt*

**Prompt 1****:** Create a single animation sprite sheet for a seamless looping GIF. A super-cute chibi adult office worker sits at a desk watching a computer monitor with a clearly plunging stock-market line chart. The sequence: hopeful expression, notices the chart falling, eyes widen, face crumples, large cartoon tears stream down both cheeks, then quietly wipes tears while still staring at the falling chart. Oversized round head, tiny body, big expressive eyes, soft rounded features, messy fluffy hair, white shirt and loosened tie. Exactly 6 sequential frames arranged in a precise 3-column by 2-row grid, read left-to-right then top-to-bottom. Every panel has identical dimensions. Fixed front three-quarter camera, same character, same desk, monitor, outfit, and cozy miniature office background. Clear incremental facial and tear motion; sixth frame transitions smoothly toward the first. Polished kawaii chibi 3D toy-like style, warm pastel lighting, funny and sympathetic mood. No captions, no words, no numbers, no logos, no speech bubbles, no panel labels, no borders, no gutters.

*Created by OpenArt*

**Prompt 2:** Create a single animation sprite sheet for a seamless looping GIF. A super-cute chibi adult office worker sits at a desk watching a computer monitor with a clearly soaring stock-market line chart and a large upward arrow. The sequence: notices the chart rising, eyes widen with delight, jumps up cheering, grabs a handful of generic paper banknotes with no readable currency markings, then happily tosses the banknotes into the air like confetti while laughing. Oversized round head, tiny body, big sparkling expressive eyes, soft rounded features, messy fluffy hair, white shirt and loosened tie. Exactly 6 sequential frames arranged in a precise 3-column by 2-row grid, read left-to-right then top-to-bottom. Every panel has identical dimensions. Fixed front three-quarter camera, same character, desk, monitor, outfit, and cozy miniature office background. Clear incremental body, arm, and flying-paper motion; sixth frame transitions smoothly toward the first. Polished kawaii chibi 3D toy-like style, bright celebratory pastel lighting, funny joyful mood. No captions, no words, no numbers, no logos, no real currency symbols, no speech bubbles, no panel labels, no borders, no gutters.

> “GIFs are the native language of social media, and GPT‑Image‑2.6 lets every OpenArt creator speak it fluently from a single prompt.”

—Coco Mao, CEO & Co-founder at OpenArt

And you don’t need a polished design to get started — even a simple sketch can become an expressive, animated character for videos, games, and more.

An owl drawn in pen on lined paper.

From personal reactions to brand mascots and product visuals, GIFs give people and businesses a playful way to communicate. Town, a startup building an AI work assistant, used Images 2.6 in the API to explore how animated characters could bring more personality to everyday interactions at work.

## More ways to create and edit in the API

With Images 2.6, developers get more control over how images are created, edited, and carried into the next stage of a project. Image markup, already available in ChatGPT, comes to the API so teams can pinpoint exactly where to make specific changes. SVG exports make designs ready to use across websites, apps, and print.

A new complexity parameter lets developers adjust how much planning the model does to meet a request, with lower settings suited to quick edits. Image quality controls visual detail and fidelity, while complexity guides how much goes into the scene.

> “GPT‑Image‑2.6 brings speed and creative control together, helping you generate and edit images while preserving the details that define a character, product, or brand. We’re excited to add it to Figma Weave, giving teams another powerful model for creative production, all within a reusable workflow.”

—Itay Schiff, Creative Director at Figma Weave

For most editing tasks, we recommend low complexity for faster edits, paired with the image quality your workflow requires. For scenes with many elements or constraints, try medium or high complexity effort.

See what early access customers generated using Images 2.6:

> “At Picsart, we see how much creators value being able to generate an image fast. OpenAI’s new 2.6 model brings more accurate results, better character consistency, and faster generations. Paired with Picsart’s advanced editing tools, it gives our users more time to experiment, refine details, and turn one idea into a whole social campaign.”

—Davit Avoyan, Director GTM at Picsart

A giant multicolored glass whale floats above misty mountains beside a stone chapel at sunset.

## Pricing and availability

Images 2.6 is available globally today in ChatGPT and Codex across all subscription tiers on desktop, mobile, and web.

GPT‑Image‑2.6 Sunburst and GPT‑Image‑2.6 Flare are available in the API. See [pricing details here.⁠(opens in a new window)](https://developers.openai.com/api/docs/pricing#image-generation)

Learn more about our safety evaluations and safeguards for Images 2.6 in the system card.

- [2026](https://openai.com/news/?tags=2026)
- [API](https://openai.com/news/?tags=api)

## Author

OpenAI

## Keep reading

[View all](https://openai.com/news/)

Sunlight illuminates Earth against a starry sky.

[Introducing GPT-6.1 Terra

ProductOct 26, 2026](https://openai.com/index/introducing-gpt-6-1-terra/)

Build more responsive apps with the Decisions API — Cover

[Build more responsive apps with the Decisions API

ProductOct 22, 2026](https://openai.com/index/decisions-api/)

LifeVal — Cover

[LifeVal

ResearchNov 2, 2026](https://openai.com/index/lifeval/)