OpenAI releases GPT Image 2.5 in Sunburst and Flare variants for ChatGPT and the API

Archive entry: this covers an event from September 8, 2026, and we published it on November 8, 2026. The details come from sources dated at the time and may have changed since.

On September 8, 2026, OpenAI released GPT Image 2.5 in two API variants, as described in its announcement of ChatGPT Images 2.5. ChatGPT Images 2.5 launched the same day.

What changed

• Two variants: Sunburst targets editing precision and Flare targets fast everyday generation, as listed in the OpenAI API changelog.
• Quality settings: both variants added xhigh and max quality settings.
• Pricing: GPT Image 2.5 used GPT Image 2 token rates. Image token pricing was $8 per 1M input, $30 per 1M output and $2 per 1M cached input, and batch pricing was $4 for input and $15 for output.
• ChatGPT Images 2.5: it let users turn ideas, sketches and reference photos into more personalized, polished images.

What it means for people who build with AI

Developers could choose between an editing-focused and a speed-focused image model at the same per-token price. That made the choice a question of the work at hand: precise edits with Sunburst, or quick everyday generation with Flare.

Later availability in GitHub Copilot

According to a GitHub changelog entry dated October 28, 2026, Copilot image generation, in preview from that date, was powered by GPT Image 2.5 Flare. Flare was the variant aimed at fast everyday generation.

Sources

• Introducing ChatGPT Images 2.5 (OpenAI, September 8, 2026, official)
• Generate and edit images directly in Copilot (GitHub, October 28, 2026, official)
• OpenAI API changelog: GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst and Flare (OpenAI, September 8, 2026, official)
• OpenAI News RSS feed (item: Introducing ChatGPT Images 2.5) (OpenAI, September 8, 2026, official)

Written with AI assistance, strictly from the sources listed above. Before it went live, automated checks verified its dates, sources and every language edition.