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OpenAI releases GPT-6 Astra, its most capable model for end-to-end work

GPT-6 Astra at a glance

GPT-6 Astra launched in the API with a 1M-token context, max reasoning effort and new agent controls such as async tool calling.

Current standing

As of

Rank
#3of 43 models

GPT-6 Astra (Max) · 56.9 on the Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index v5.0.1 (opens in a new tab)

Recorded at publication
57 (v5.0.1)

as of

Current leader
Gemini 4 Carbon (Google) · 60

Computed from our daily snapshot; it changes as new models are measured. OpenAI releases GPT-6 Astra, its most capable model for end-to-end work

What changed with GPT-6 Astra

OpenAI released GPT-6 Astra (gpt-6-astra) on September 3, 2026, calling it its most capable model for the hardest end-to-end work: reasoning, coding, computer use, research and document creation. It has a context window of about 1.05M tokens, up to 128K output tokens and reasoning effort levels up to 'max'.

The same day OpenAI added async tool calling, mid-turn steering and mid-conversation reasoning effort changes. OpenAI also runs misalignment monitoring on supported Astra requests. Astra does not support the 'none' reasoning effort, custom temperature/top_p or logprobs, and tool calling requires the Responses API.

GPT-6 Astra benchmarks and pricing

Values are copied from the linked source on the date shown. They are not IA Compa measurements.

Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index (max)as of · Source for Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index (max): artificialanalysis.ai (opens in a new tab)
57 (v5.0.1)
Output speed (max)as of · Source for Output speed (max): artificialanalysis.ai (opens in a new tab)
43 tokens/s
Context windowas of · Source for Context window: developers.openai.com (opens in a new tab)
1.05M tokens

How it compares

Current models we have covered: released in the last six months, newest version of each line only. Each value is the model's latest recorded value. (Models)

Intelligence indexhigher is better
Output speed (tokens/s)higher is better
Input price (USD per 1M tokens)lower is better
Output price (USD per 1M tokens)lower is better
Context window (tokens)higher is better

GPT-6 Astra reasoning effort

Artificial Analysis tests this model at several reasoning-effort settings. Higher effort usually scores higher but costs more and answers more slowly.

GPT-6 Astra by effort level

Higher effort lets the model think longer. Here is what each setting scores, how fast it writes, and what it costs on Artificial Analysis.

Intelligence Index · higher is better
Cost to run the index · lower is betterHover, tap or focus a point for exact numbers.
GPT-6 Astra: Artificial Analysis results by reasoning effort
EffortIntelligence IndexOutput speed (tokens per second)Cost to run the indexBlended price (3:1) (per 1M tokens)Price in / out (per 1M tokens)First token
Max (GPT-6 Astra (max)) · Best: highest effort with a score, used in the leaderboard5743$5,661$20$10 / $50238 s
Extra high (GPT-6 Astra (xhigh))5543$3,746$20$10 / $50125 s
High (GPT-6 Astra (high))5544$3,204$20$10 / $5057 s
Medium (GPT-6 Astra (medium))5247$2,638$20$10 / $507.1 s
Low (GPT-6 Astra (low))4344$1,651$20$10 / $504.2 s
Price: $10 / $50 per 1M input / output tokens at every effort.Artificial Analysis · as of Nov 5, 2026 (opens in a new tab)

Benchmarked by AA: max · xhigh · high · medium · low of 6 available

Where to compare GPT-6 Astra

Independent leaderboards and official resources for comparing this model yourself. Rankings change often; each site shows its own current data.

Why GPT-6 Astra matters for businesses

At $10 input and $50 output per million tokens, Astra is OpenAI's premium tier; Artificial Analysis scores it 57 on its Intelligence Index v5.0.1, the highest among the OpenAI models we checked, but at a measured 43 tokens/s. For most business automations, Sol or Luna will be cheaper; Astra fits complex, high-value tasks where accuracy matters most.

Sources for this story

  1. OpenAI API changelog (opens in a new tab)

    OpenAI · developers.openai.com

    Official
  2. GPT-6 Astra model page (opens in a new tab)

    OpenAI · developers.openai.com

    Official
  3. Official
  4. GPT-6 Astra model page (opens in a new tab)

    Artificial Analysis · artificialanalysis.ai

    Benchmark

Last verified: . IA Compa summarizes public announcements for business readers. We are not affiliated with the companies mentioned. Always confirm details, pricing, and availability with the official source.

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