OpenAI had a busy 2026. GPT-5.5 arrived in April, GPT-5.6 came in July together with the ChatGPT Work agent, and the GPT-6 family started rolling out in September. Here is what each release brings and how to use it.
The GPT-6 family
GPT-6 comes in several versions. Astra, the most capable one, was unveiled on September 3 and opened to paid users the next day in a version with extra safety restrictions. Sol and Luna were released on September 22, and GPT-6 Instant, the fast everyday model, reached paid users on October 7 and free users on October 8. OpenAI says Astra is a big step forward in professional work, software engineering and operating computers and web browsers.
GPT-6 Instant and interactive answers
GPT-6 Instant introduces what OpenAI calls an Intelligent UI: instead of only text, answers can include interactive widgets. For everyday users this is the most visible change in ChatGPT this autumn.
ChatGPT Work: OpenAI’s agent
ChatGPT Work launched on July 9, 2026, together with GPT-5.6. It is an agent with built-in Codex that can run multi-step tasks, work in the background across your apps, use local files or a built-in browser and connect to other systems through plugins. You can start a task on your computer and check its progress from your phone. It first came to Pro, Enterprise and Edu plans and then expanded to Plus and Business.
GPT-5.6: Sol, Terra and Luna
Before GPT-6, OpenAI split GPT-5.6 into three tiers: Sol as the flagship for complex reasoning and agent work, Terra as the balanced everyday model and Luna as the fastest and cheapest option. This idea of choosing a model by task and budget continues in GPT-6.
How to make use of it
- Use the fast Instant model for quick questions, translations and short texts.
- Switch to the stronger models for analysis, coding and long documents.
- Try ChatGPT Work for repeatable tasks, such as collecting data from websites into a table or preparing a weekly report.
Frequently asked questions
Is GPT-6 free?
GPT-6 Instant is available to free users. The stronger versions and ChatGPT Work require a paid plan. Conditions change often, so check OpenAI’s site.
What is the difference between ChatGPT and ChatGPT Work?
Regular ChatGPT answers in a chat. ChatGPT Work is an agent: it takes a task, plans the steps and completes them across apps, files and the web, asking you only when needed.
Is GPT-6 better than Claude or Gemini?
Each leads in different areas, and the rankings change with every release. Test them on your own real tasks before choosing.
Read next
- AI News, Autumn 2026: What’s New in Claude, GPT-6 and Gemini 4
- Claude Cowork vs ChatGPT Work vs Gemini Task Mode: AI Agents for Everyday Work
- 25 ChatGPT Prompts for SMM: Content Plans, Captions and Replies
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