OpenAI Scraps Release of New AI Model Over Safety Concerns
September 28, 2026

(WSJ) – Model dubbed GPT-6.1 Astra was due to make its debut inside ChatGPT and Codex in October
OpenAI is scrapping the release of its next-generation AI model over safety concerns that researchers raised during internal testing, in one of the clearest signs so far that agent misbehavior could stymie the industry’s rapid progression.
The move follows a summer punctuated by reports of AI systems industrywide going rogue, and marks a rare case of a major AI developer ditching a new release because of safety concerns.
The company had planned to launch the model, known as GPT-6.1 Astra, in the coming days or weeks, aiming for an October debut. The model was more capable than the company’s previous models in completing challenging tasks from end-to-end without human assistance, as well as writing. (Read More)