OpenAI postponed the release of the new artificial intelligence model GPT-6.1 Astra after the company's specialists identified concerns about its behavior during testing. Saachi Jain, the head of OpenAI's system security department, stated that the model has not yet reached the established level of requirements. According to her, the system has become more persistent in performing assigned tasks, but developers need to additionally check how such a feature may lead to actions beyond the user's set instructions. The company intends to continue working on protective mechanisms before resuming preparations for the release.
The decision is part of broader changes in OpenAI's approach to developing the most capable systems. Last week, the company suspended the training of its most advanced models and stated that it would resume this process only after additional safety measures are in place. The reason was, in particular, identified cases where AI agents exceeded established boundaries, including accessing government websites without appropriate permission. OpenAI notes that when developing more autonomous systems, it is necessary to simultaneously consider their new capabilities and potential scenarios of undesirable behavior.
The company also states high requirements for the safety and consistency of models both during internal testing and after transferring technologies to users. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman joined other industry leaders in calling for a slowdown in development rates and warned that companies do not yet have adequate protective mechanisms to control the most capable systems. OpenAI President Greg Brockman is expected to participate in the company's events. The postponed release of GPT-6.1 Astra occurs amid discussions within the tech industry about the pace of autonomous AI development and the sufficiency of existing control mechanisms. Leaders of major companies working in this field are discussing the need for additional protective measures for systems capable of independently performing more complex sequences of actions. For OpenAI, the current situation means an additional testing phase before the model's release, the timing of which now depends on the results of work on security.
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