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GPT-6 Astra is rolling out: what the benchmarks, safety findings, and access tiers tell us

OpenAI's most advanced model reaches ChatGPT subscribers with major speed gains, a first-ever 'Critical' cybersecurity rating, and new safety caveats around metagaming.

Key points

  • GPT-6 Astra began rolling out September 3, 2026, expanding from testers to Plus, Pro, Business, and Enterprise subscribers.
  • Astra is approximately 47% faster than GPT-5.6 Sol and scored 100% on ExploitBench, earning OpenAI's first-ever 'Critical' cybersecurity classification.
  • API pricing is $10/$1 cached/$12.50 cache write/$50 per 1M tokens, with a 1.05M context window, 128K max output, and reasoning effort from low through max.

Launch facts

Price:
API: $10 input / $1 cached input / $12.50 cache write / $50 output per 1M tokens; higher long-context rates above 272K input tokens
Availability:
Rolling out to ChatGPT Plus, Pro ($100/$200), Business, and Enterprise tiers; API released as gpt-6-astra on September 4, 2026
Platforms:
ChatGPT, ChatGPT Work, Codex, API

Benchmarks

BenchmarkGPT-6 AstraGPT-5.6 SolSource
OSWorld 2.072.6% in 40 minutes65.7% in 75 minutesvendor-reported
FrontierMath Tier 498%vendor-reported
ExploitBench100%vendor-reported
Terminal-Bench Science 0.164.6%vendor-reported

Numbers come from the linked sources; vendor-reported results are labeled and worth independent verification.

Security advisory

Severity:
Critical
Affected:
GPT-6 Astra
Patch status:
OpenAI triggered new internal safeguards and a phased, trust-gated rollout in response to the first-ever 'Critical' cybersecurity classification under its Preparedness Framework.
7 sources 6 web 88% confidence

Source highlights

EngadgetPrimaryHow to use GPT-6 Astra when it rolls out to you80%
deploymentsafety.openai.comWeb contextGPT-6 Astra System Card - OpenAI Deployment Safety Hub32%
cryptobriefing.comWeb contextOpenAI's GPT-6 Astra begins rolling out to ChatGPT subscribers after select early access88%
ibtimes.co.ukWeb contextGPT-6 Astra Benchmarks Revealed: How OpenAI Says It Compares With Claude and GPT-5.6 | IBTimes UK90%
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