# OpenAI Images 2.6: GPT-Image-2.6 Flare and Sunburst add GIFs, SVG export and a complexity control

Canonical: https://theagenticweekly.com/news/openai-introducing-images-2-6 · Evidence: Reported · First seen: 2026-11-05 00:13 UTC · Source published: 2026-11-04 00:00 UTC · Brief published: 2026-11-05 00:14 UTC · Updated: 2026-11-05 00:14 UTC · Author: Agentic Weekly

> OpenAI released Images 2.6 on November 4, 2026 in ChatGPT, Codex and the API, where it ships as `gpt-image-2.6-flare` and `gpt-image-2.6-sunburst`. OpenAI says it "generates images 50% faster than before" and adds animated GIFs, SVG output, markup-guided edits and a new `complexity` setting, at $30 per 1M image-output tokens.

Models in this brief: [GPT-Image-2.6 Flare](https://theagenticweekly.com/models/gpt-image-2-6-flare), [GPT-Image-2.6 Sunburst](https://theagenticweekly.com/models/gpt-image-2-6-sunburst)

## What changed

- Launch: Images 2.6 is available globally in ChatGPT and Codex on all subscription tiers (desktop, mobile and web), and in the API as two models, GPT-Image-2.6 Flare for fast iteration and GPT-Image-2.6 Sunburst for detailed work.
- Speed: OpenAI says Images 2.6 generates images 50% faster than before, and that Flare at low quality can return an image in as little as six seconds. Sunburst is pitched for higher quality and more consistent edits at medium or high quality.
- New output types: animated GIFs (for example looping mascots or reaction images) and SVG export, both available through the Image API for Flare and Sunburst, per OpenAI's image generation guide.
- New `complexity` request field (`low`, `medium`, `high`; `high` if omitted) controls how much the model plans before rendering, separately from `quality`. OpenAI recommends low complexity for most edits and says adjusting it has no separate fee.
- Image markup, already in ChatGPT, comes to the API: markup-guided editing works on supported GPT Image 2.5 and 2.6 models, per the Nov 4 API changelog.
- API details: both models take text and image input, output images, and support only `v1/images/generations` and `v1/images/edits`; the model pages list Batch and the Responses API as not supported. Price is $5 per 1M text input tokens, $8 image input and $30 image output.

## In the source's words

> "Images 2.6 generates images 50% faster than before."
> (OpenAI, Introducing Images 2.6 (Internet Archive capture), https://web.archive.org/web/20261104233638/https://openai.com/index/introducing-images-2-6/)

> "When quality is set to low, Flare can generate images in as little as six seconds."
> (OpenAI, Introducing Images 2.6 (Internet Archive capture), https://web.archive.org/web/20261104233638/https://openai.com/index/introducing-images-2-6/)

> "Adjusting complexity has no separate fee."
> (OpenAI image generation guide, https://developers.openai.com/api/docs/guides/image-generation)

## What we have not verified

- We did not run Images 2.6; the 50% speed gain and six-second figure are OpenAI's claims, and the post does not say what "before" is measured against.
- OpenAI's post and feed give only the date (November 4, 2026), so the exact release time is unknown; the Internet Archive captured the post at 23:36 UTC that day.
- Per-image costs depend on token counts we did not measure; the model pages give token prices only and say rate limits vary by account.
- Whether Batch or the Responses API image tool will add 2.6 later is not stated. We did not read the system card linked from the post.

## Timeline

- Source published: 2026-11-04 00:00 UTC
- First seen by our watcher: 2026-11-05 00:13 UTC (via OpenAI News)
- Brief published: 2026-11-05 00:14 UTC

## Sources

- [OpenAI: Introducing Images 2.6 (Internet Archive capture; openai.com blocks scripted fetches)](https://web.archive.org/web/20261104233638/https://openai.com/index/introducing-images-2-6/) (primary source) (fetched 2026-11-05)
- [OpenAI API changelog (Nov 4 entry)](https://developers.openai.com/api/docs/changelog) (primary source) (fetched 2026-11-05)
- [OpenAI API: GPT-Image-2.6 Flare model page](https://developers.openai.com/api/docs/models/gpt-image-2.6-flare) (primary source) (fetched 2026-11-05)
- [OpenAI API: GPT-Image-2.6 Sunburst model page](https://developers.openai.com/api/docs/models/gpt-image-2.6-sunburst) (primary source) (fetched 2026-11-05)
- [OpenAI image generation guide (GPT Image 2.6 section)](https://developers.openai.com/api/docs/guides/image-generation) (primary source) (fetched 2026-11-05)

## Related

- [GPT-Image-2.6 Flare: model facts and price](https://theagenticweekly.com/models/gpt-image-2-6-flare)
- [GPT-Image-2.6 Sunburst: model facts and price](https://theagenticweekly.com/models/gpt-image-2-6-sunburst)
- [GPT-Image-2.5 Sunburst](https://theagenticweekly.com/models/gpt-image-2-5-sunburst)
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## How to cite

Agentic Weekly, "OpenAI Images 2.6: GPT-Image-2.6 Flare and Sunburst add GIFs, SVG export and a complexity control", published 2026-11-05 00:14 UTC, https://theagenticweekly.com/news/openai-introducing-images-2-6