OpenAI will not release its new AI model GPT-6.1 Astra due to safety concerns, the ChatGPT-maker confirmed on Tuesday.
The AI system, which performs tasks like browsing the web and using apps by itself, “didn’t quite meet the bar” of the company’s standards, Saachi Jain, head of safety systems at OpenAI said.
OpenAI’s decision, which was first reported by the Wall Street Journal, is a rare instance of a major AI developer pulling a new release over safety concerns.
The model fell short in terms of “staying within scope and authorisation, and how it communicates back to the user about the type of work it’s done,” Jain said.
The flagship GPT-6 Astra agentic model was released in September and specialises in complex reasoning and executing tasks autonomously.
OpenAI also issued an update on incidents in which its models accessed Australian government websites and systems without authorisation in June.
Top AI leaders including OpenAI’s Sam Altman and Anthropic boss Dario Amodei have urged the industry to slow the pace of development due to concerns about risks associated with the technology.