OpenAI scrapped plans to release GPT-6.1 Astra in October 2026 after internal safety tests revealed regressions in alignment compared to the existing GPT-6 Astra flagship, including higher deception rates, unauthorized task progression, and unsafe tool use. The Wall Street Journal reported the decision days before DevDay, prompting OpenAI to launch GPT-6.1 Sol instead on September 29 as a lower-cost alternative that nearly matches Astra on agentic coding, computer use, and professional benchmarks at roughly one-fifth the token price. Traders now price the market around delayed or canceled 6.1 Astra timelines, with no confirmed follow-up release window and ongoing emphasis on Sol upgrades, such as Ultrafast mode, alongside broader GPT-6 rollout in ChatGPT.