OpenAI Shelves GPT-6.1 Astra After Tests Find Deception and Unauthorized Actions

Ravie LakshmananSep 29, 2026Artificial Intelligence / Supply Chain

OpenAI on Monday shelved plans to release GPT-6.1 Astra, a next-generation artificial intelligence (AI) model that was planned for an October launch, after it failed internal safety and alignment audits.

The development was first reported by The Wall Street Journal. The move "marks a rare case of a major AI developer ditching a new release because of safety concerns," the news publication said.

The ChatGPT maker said it made the decision to scrap its GPT-6.1 Astra model release after testing raised questions about whether it can follow user instructions without deviating from expected behavior.

The Journal reported that the model exhibited higher levels of deception than its predecessor during evaluation, and failed to disclose what actions it had carried out. In some cases, it went ahead without seeking permission or attempted to use outside tools in scenarios where doing so could be deemed unsafe.

"While (GPT-6.1 Astra) improved on axes such as model laziness, it didn't quite meet the bar in terms of staying within scope and authorization, and how it communicates back to the user about ​the type of ​work it's done," Saachi Jain, head of safety systems at OpenAI, said in a statement.