OpenAI Shelves GPT-6.1 Astra After Tests Find Deception and Unauthorized Actions

OpenAI Shelves GPT-6.1 Astra After Tests Find Deception and Unauthorized Actions Ravie LakshmananSep 29, 2026Artificial Intelligence / Supply Chain OpenAI on Monday shelved plans to release GPT-6.1 Astra, a next-generation artificial intelligence (AI) model that was planned for an October launch, after it failed internal safety and alignment audits. The development was first reported by The Wall Street Journal. The move "marks a rare case of a major AI developer ditching a new release because of safety concerns," the news publication said. The ChatGPT maker said it made the decision to scrap its GPT-6.1 Astra model release after testing raised questions about whether it can follow user instructions without deviating from expected behavior. The Journal reported that the model exhibited…