OpenAI's Faster Models: Astra Gains 50% Speed Boost, New Sol Tier Cuts Costs by 80%

OpenAI has released two major model updates in late September 2026: GPT-6 Astra, which delivers roughly 50% faster performance on complex reasoning tasks, and GPT-6.1 Sol, a cost-optimized variant that matches Astra's capabilities at one-fifth the price.