OpenAI adds animated GIF creation to ChatGPT with Images 2.6 model rollout
OpenAI’s new Images 2.6 model lets ChatGPT generate animated GIFs from text or photos, with frame-by-frame editing and speed controls, now available to all users.
OpenAI announced that its latest Images 2.6 model now powers animated GIF generation inside ChatGPT, expanding the chatbot’s multimedia capabilities for both consumer and developer audiences. The feature, which lets users turn a text prompt or an uploaded image into a GIF and then tweak playback speed or edit individual frames, is being rolled out to all ChatGPT and Codex users on web, desktop and mobile platforms.
- ChatGPT can create GIFs from prompts or photos, with speed and frame editing tools.
- Developers gain access to two new API variants—GPT-Image-2.6 Flare for speed and GPT-Image-2.6 Sunburst for quality.
- OpenAI reports more than 4 billion images generated weekly across ChatGPT and its API, up from 3 billion in September.
How the GIF workflow works in ChatGPT
When a user enters a request such as “make a gif of a cat dancing,” the model produces a series of closely related frames that are stitched together into a flip-book-style animation. After the GIF appears, the interface offers a slider to adjust playback speed and a thumbnail strip that lets users inspect or replace any individual frame before sharing the final animation.
Technical details of Images 2.6 and the new API models
Images 2.6 builds on the reasoning-before-drawing approach introduced with Images 2.0 earlier this year, but adds consistency across sequential frames, which is essential for smooth animation. OpenAI also released two API variants alongside the consumer feature: GPT-Image-2.6 Flare, optimized for lower latency and higher throughput, and GPT-Image-2.6 Sunburst, which prioritizes image fidelity and detail. Both variants follow the split-model strategy first used with Images 2.5 in September.
Growth in image generation usage
OpenAI disclosed that users now generate over 4 billion images per week across ChatGPT and its API, a rise of roughly one billion since September when the weekly total was reported at 3 billion. The company emphasized that the figure aggregates all image output, not just GIFs, and reflects the broader adoption of its visual tools.
Why the update matters for developers and businesses
For developers, the addition of Flare and Sunburst expands the toolkit for integrating high-quality, fast image generation into apps, websites, and internal workflows. The ability to produce animated content directly from prompts can streamline marketing asset creation, automate UI mock-ups, or power dynamic visual responses in chat-based customer support. Enterprises that already rely on OpenAI’s API now have a more efficient path to embed short animations without third-party video services.
What comes next for OpenAI’s visual AI roadmap
OpenAI’s rollout of GIF creation arrives months after the company discontinued its Sora video model in March, suggesting a shift toward shorter, more controllable visual outputs. The firm also began testing ads within its image generation interface earlier this month, indicating a potential monetization layer for high-volume users. Future updates are likely to focus on extending frame length, improving resolution, and integrating the new models with other OpenAI products such as DALL-E and Codex.
