OpenAI Launches ChatGPT Images 2.5, 50% Faster — SkimNews
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- OpenAI released ChatGPT Images 2.5 on September 8, 2026 — five months after Images 2 (April 2026) — touting sharper details, faster generation, more precise editing, and better tools for creating and sharing
- Images 2.5 improves natural lighting and richer textures, better preserves subjects in reference photos, and follows editing instructions more reliably across multiple turns, per OpenAI
- OpenAI cut image generation latency by up to 50% compared with Images 2.0
- OpenAI introduced a new "Sketch" feature that lets users draw directly in ChatGPT as a reference for image generation, alongside templates for popular image formats and prompt sharing
- OpenAI released two developer API variants: GPT-Image-2.5 Flare (the default, delivering higher quality than GPT-Image-2 at 50% lower latency) and GPT-Image-2.5 Sunburst, built for premium workflows like production-ready campaign creative
- Images 2.5 is rolling out today to ChatGPT, ChatGPT Work, and Codex users across all tiers on desktop, mobile, and web — one week after last week's GPT-6 Astra launch
Why it matters: Developers embedding image generation into apps gain a faster default (Flare at 50% lower latency than its predecessor) while premium creative teams get a Sunburst variant built for production-grade control. The one-week gap between the GPT-6 Astra model release and Images 2.5 signals OpenAI is now shipping flagship upgrades on a near-weekly cadence.
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