OpenAI Scraps Release of New AI Model Over Safety Concerns

The Wall Street Journal ^ | Sept. 28, 2026 6:00 pm ET | Maxwell Zeff

[E. Pluribus Unum]

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.

The company instead will focus on improving the safety of future models, which it expects to be even more capable.

Saachi Jain, OpenAI’s head of safety systems, said in an interview that GPT-6.1 Astra regressed in two areas compared with its predecessor and wasn’t reliable enough to safely release. The model performed poorly on tests measuring alignment, or how well the model adheres to what humans would like it to do. Specifically, GPT-6.1 Astra showed higher levels of deception: It wasn’t always honest about telling users of the actions it did or didn’t take.

Another issue was what OpenAI calls “scope authorization,” meaning that GPT-6.1 Astra would push ahead on a task without asking the user for permission, and would at times reach for external tools and services even if it might be unsafe.

[oldtech]

I surely don’t have much of a clue about any of this AI. Most of the stuff I have read about it just creates more & more confusion about any of it.