OpenAI expects to ship one or two new AI models before the end of 2026, according to employees cited by The Information. The company’s upcoming flagship will use the same looped‑transformer technique that powers its current top model, Astra. That method improves math and coding ability but makes it harder for safety reviewers to follow the model’s reasoning. OpenAI still needs to finish alignment work and build testing infrastructure before the flagship can be released.
Why it matters
If the flagship is delayed, developers and enterprises waiting for a higher‑perform, cost‑effective model will have to continue using Astra or older versions.
