ChatGPT didn’t become the world’s fastest-growing AI chatbot by accident. Since OpenAI’s original launch on November 30, 2022, every GPT model release has pushed reasoning, coding, and multimodal capability further.
ChatGPT launched on November 30, 2022, running on GPT-3.5. Nearly four years later, OpenAI is on GPT-6, and models now retire within months of release.
This guide tracks every major ChatGPT version from GPT-3.5 to GPT-6. You get the ChatGpT version release dates, what each version added, and which one to use today.
What is The Latest Version of ChatGPT
GPT-6 is the latest model of ChatGPT. With Intelligent UI, a single answer can include visuals and tools you can use right in the conversation.
What is ChatGPT?
ChatGPT is OpenAI’s AI chatbot and a renowned LLM. It reads text, files, images and audio, and answers in plain language.
ChatGPT was born in 2022 as a question-and-answer tool. Today it also handles longer tasks through ChatGPT Work, connects to other apps through plugins, and builds interactive answers like charts and calculators with Intelligent UI.
Teams chaining these agents into daily processes often look at task automation software first.
When OpenAI Launched GPT-5.6
Chat GPT-5.6 reached the public on July 9, 2026. OpenAI first released it on June 26 to a small group of trusted partners, after the US government sought to restrict the rollout over cybersecurity concerns.
On July 9, GPt 5.6 went live across ChatGPT, Codex and the API.
GPT-5.6 ships as three models
- Sol: the flagship model
- Terra: balanced for everyday work
- Luna: fast and affordable
The number sets the generation. The name sets the capability tier. Sol is the strongest. Luna is the cheapest.
ChatGPT Work, an agent for longer tasks, launched the same day.
At the government’s request, OpenAI first opened access to a small group of trusted partners, whose participation it disclosed to the government, ahead of a wider rollout. OpenAI says it will keep testing and coordinating with partners through this preview period, on the way to broader access.
GPT-5.6 updates after launch
On August 6, OpenAI updated GPT-5.6 in ChatGPT. Plus and Pro users got a new Sol with more reliable facts and more focused answers. It also added a slider to set how much thinking ChatGPT does per reply.
Free and Go users got Luna as their default model. Both replaced GPT-5.5 Instant. Work and Codex kept the July versions.
GPT-6 took over as the lead model on September 3. The timeline below shows how the releases stack up.
When Was The First ChatGPT Release Date
OpenAI launched ChatGPT on November 30, 2022, running on GPT-3.5. Every major version since has pushed forward on reasoning, speed, coding, image understanding, voice, and multimodal ability.
The table below lists every major ChatGPT version history release, update, and launch date.
ChatGPT Version History Timeline
| ChatGPT version | Release date | Key features |
| GPT-6 Pro update | October 16, 2026 | Faster replies, better use of plugins and tools, and parallel agents that work on different parts of a task. Rolling out to eligible Pro users. |
| GPT-Live-1.1 | October 15, 2026 | Voice update with more natural accents, new voices, and a mini version. |
| GPT-6 with Intelligent UI | October 7, 2026 | Answers can include charts, calculators, comparisons and games. Sol on paid plans, Luna on Free and Go. |
| GPT-6.1 Sol | September 29, 2026 | Better agentic coding, computer use and professional work. Work and Codex only. |
| GPT-6 Sol and Luna | September 22, 2026 | Added to Work and Codex first. Chat followed on October 7. |
| ChatGPT Images 2.5 | September 8, 2026 | Sharper detail, more precise edits and faster generation. Adds templates and sketch-to-image on mobile. |
| GPT-6 Astra | September 3, 2026 (limited preview). September 4, 2026 (restricted public release) | Stronger coding, research and computer use. Builds documents, spreadsheets and decks from your templates. Restricted on some cybersecurity prompts. |
| GPT-5.6 update | August 6, 2026 | New Sol with a thinking-effort slider. Luna becomes the Free and Go default. Replaces GPT-5.5 Instant. |
| GPT-5.6 | June 26, 2026 (preview). July 9, 2026 (public) | Built for long-horizon agentic work, stronger reasoning and cybersecurity. Ships as Sol (flagship), Terra (balanced) and Luna (fast). |
| GPT-Live-1 | July 8, 2026 | Voice model that listens and speaks at the same time. Uses web search, memory and widgets. |
| GPT-5.5 | April 2026 | Adds reasoning, agentic coding, deep research and computer use, letting it navigate interfaces on its own. |
| ChatGPT Images 2.0 | April 21, 2026 | New image model. Images with thinking plans and refines before it generates. Paid plans. |
| GPT-5.4 | March 2026 | Sharper reasoning, agentic workflows and coding. Added deep web search and held context better on tasks needing extended thinking. |
| GPT-5.3 | GPT-5.3 Codex: February 2026. GPT-5.3 Instant: March 2026 | Strengthened full-cycle software development and collaboration, with more accurate, logical output. |
| GPT-5.2 | December 2025 | Built for routine tasks and learning, answering technical questions conversationally. |
| GPT-5.1 | November 2025 | Smarter, more conversational. Split into GPT-5.1 Instant and GPT-5.1 Thinking for faster or more precise answers. |
| GPT-5 | August 2025 | Better tool coordination, context management and reasoning than GPT-4. |
| ChatGPT Agent | July 2025 | Combined Operator, Codex and Deep Research into one agent for multi-step tasks. |
| OpenAI o3 and o4-mini | April 2025 | Both models improved reasoning. |
| GPT-4o replaces GPT-4 | April 2025 | Better writing and coding, with closer adherence to user prompts. |
| GPT-4.5 (ChatGPT Pro) | February 2025 | Stronger world knowledge and more accurate intent detection. |
| OpenAI o3-mini | January 2025 | Improved small-model performance in coding, science and math. |
| OpenAI Operator agent | January 2025 | Used GPT-4’s vision and reasoning to interact directly with web pages. |
| Scheduled tasks in ChatGPT | January 2025 | Automated recurring tasks: notifications, daily reports, AI-generated messages. |
| OpenAI o3 preview | December 2024 | Better problem-solving, reliability and self-correction. |
| Full o1 model | December 2024 | Outperformed o1 preview. Added function calling, image analysis and a “reasoning effort” parameter. |
| Sora | December 2024 | Introduced text-to-video generation, up to 20-second 1080p clips. |
| ChatGPT Pro | December 2024 | $200/month tier with unrestricted access to OpenAI’s top models. |
| GPT-4o mini | July 2024 | Beat GPT-3, roughly matched GPT-3.5, and topped some benchmarks for its size. |
| GPT-4o | May 2024 | GPT-4-level intelligence, faster, with multimodal support for text, voice and vision. |
| GPT-4 Turbo and Custom GPTs | November 2023 | Turbo cut costs at GPT-4 quality. Custom GPTs let users build their own bot with no code. |
| DALL·E 3 in ChatGPT | October 2023 | Built image generation into chat from conversational prompts. |
| ChatGPT Android app | July 2023 | Launched on Google Play. |
| ChatGPT iOS app | May 2023 | Free access with no upfront cost. |
| GPT-4 | March 2023 | Added multimodal input. GPT-3.5 was text-only. |
| ChatGPT Plus | February 2023 | $20/month subscription with added benefits over the free tier. |
| Microsoft partnership expansion | January 2023 | Microsoft invested in dedicated supercomputing to scale OpenAI’s research. |
| Performance update | December 2022 | Improved usability and response times. |
| ChatGPT launch | November 2022 | OpenAI’s first public release, built on NLP advances. |
This version history tracks how far AI has moved into digital marketing, SaaS, AI tools and AI search.
What is GPT-6?
GPT-6 is OpenAI’s model family that replaced GPT-5.6 in ChatGPT. It launched on September 3, 2026, with GPT-6 Astra. Sol and Luna followed on September 22. Intelligent UI arrived on October 7.
GPT-6 Astra
- Released September 3 as a limited preview. Paid users got a restricted public version on September 4.
- Built for coding, research, computer use and multi-step work.
- Creates documents, spreadsheets and presentations that follow your templates.
- OpenAI says it pretrained Astra on more than 100,000 GPUs at its Stargate site in Texas.
- Powers the Pro option in ChatGPT and dots.
The public version refuses some cybersecurity prompts. It also has extra monitoring. If an agent may have misread your instructions, ChatGPT can pause or stop the conversation so you can review it.
GPT-6 Sol and Luna
- September 22: both models arrived in Work and Codex.
- October 7: both moved into Chat.
- Sol runs on Plus, Pro, Business and Enterprise.
- Luna runs on Free and Go.
The Chat versions and the Work and Codex versions are separate models. Don’t assume they behave the same.
Recurrent-depth reasoning
Astra uses a technique called recurrent depth, also known as looped transformers, according to reports. It makes the model more efficient.
But it can hide the step-by-step reasoning that researchers use to check what a model is doing. Safety experts worry this makes the model harder to monitor.
Intelligent UI
Intelligent UI launched on October 7 with GPT-6 in Chat.
- ChatGPT mixes text, visuals and interactive tools in one answer.
- Examples: side-by-side comparisons, diagrams, calculators, bill splitters and games.
- It picks the format itself. It still uses plain text when that works best.
- It can start answering while it keeps thinking, then add more findings.
- It works from Instant through Extra High. The Pro option doesn’t support it.
GPT-6.1 Sol and the GPT-6 Pro update
- GPT-6.1 Sol (September 29): improves on GPT-6 Sol in agentic coding, computer use and professional work. It runs in Work and Codex only. Pro users got it first. Plus, Business, Enterprise and Edu follow.
- GPT-6 Pro update (October 16): faster replies, better use of plugins and tools, and parallel agents that work on different parts of a task. It is rolling out to eligible Pro users.
Why GPT-6 matters
- The default chat model changed for everyone. Paid plans now run Sol. Free and Go run Luna.
- ChatGPT now returns working tools, not just text.
- Agents like Astra and dots can run longer jobs without you.
If you pay for ChatGPT, retest your saved prompts. The same prompt can give a different answer on a new model. Brands that want to show up in those answers often start with comparison-style pages.
How to access GPT-6
- Free and Go: GPT-6 Luna is the default in Chat.
- Plus, Business and Enterprise: GPT-6 Sol in Chat. Pick the effort level in the model picker.
- Pro: Sol, plus Astra through the Pro option.
- Work and Codex: Sol, Luna and GPT-6.1 Sol, depending on your plan and workspace settings.
How To Check Which ChatGPT Version You’re Using
Open the model picker. On the web, it sits in the message box. On iOS and Android, it sits at the top of the chat. It shows effort levels like Instant, Medium and High, not model names. Your plan decides the model behind them.
| Plan | Model in Chat | Picker Options |
| Free and Go | GPT-6 Luna | Default model, plus a Think button for harder questions |
| Plus, Business, Enterprise | GPT-6 Sol | Instant, Medium, High |
| Pro | GPT-6 Sol, plus GPT-6 Astra on the Pro option | Instant through Extra High, plus the Pro option |
Work and Codex run separate models, including GPT-6.1 Sol. Check the picker inside each one.
Plus and Pro no longer switch from Instant to Thinking on their own. If an answer feels shallow, raise the effort yourself.
Don’t ask ChatGPT “which model are you?” It can answer from old training data. Developers using the API should read the model field in the response object. That is the only fully reliable check.
Which ChatGPT Version Should You Use
Use the default model first. It handles most tasks. Raise the effort level only when an answer comes back shallow. Move to Pro or Work for hard analysis or long tasks. Pick by task, not by version number.
Don’t chase the newest label of ChatGPT version model. GPT-6.1 Sol runs in Work and Codex, not in Chat. Most chat users never need it.
If you’re also evaluating Anthropic’s models, reviewing the Claude version history makes it easier to compare feature releases across both platforms.
What happened to GPT-5.5 and older models?
ChagGPT-5.5 was launched on April 23, 2026. OpenAI retired it from ChatGPT, Work and Codex on October 14. API access did not change.
If you still see GPT-5.5 advice online, treat it as dated.
OpenAI retires models fast. GPT-5.2 left ChatGPT on June 12, and GPT-4.5 left on June 26. Existing chats moved to a newer model.
| Model | Released | What it added |
| GPT-5.5 | April 2026 | Agentic coding, deep research and computer use. One system for text, images, audio and video. |
| GPT-5.4 Thinking | March 2026 | Stronger reasoning, coding and agentic work |
| GPT-5.3 Instant | March 2026 | Fewer dead ends and caveats. Clearer, more accurate answers. |
| GPT-5.2 | December 2025 | Instant for routine tasks, Thinking for harder ones |
| GPT-5.1 | November 2025 | Split into Instant and Thinking |
Ending Note
ChatGPT’s version history shows a chatbot that grew from one text model in 2022 into a family of models for chat, work and code. GPT-6 is the current line, and older models disappear within months.
Check which ChatGPTversion model you’re on before you rely on it. That matters most for brands whose workflows, content or AI search visibility depend on ChatGPT.
FAQs on ChatGPT Version History Timeline
Q#1. Does OpenAI offer a discount for nonprofits?
Yes. OpenAI for Nonprofits gives eligible nonprofits up to 75% off ChatGPT Business or Enterprise. Reach out to OpenAI’s sales team for the details.
Q#2. What did ChatGPT release for the first time?
OpenAI put ChatGPT out on November 30, 2022, as a free research preview. Within months, it turned into one of the fastest-growing AI tools ever launched.
Q#3. What is the current version of ChatGPT?
That depends on your subscription and where OpenAI is in its current rollout. ChatGPT now spans multiple GPT models, and each new one adds ground in reasoning, coding, multimodal understanding, and speed.
Q#4. What does GPT stand for?
GPT stands for generative pre-trained transformer: an AI system built to generate human-like content.
Q#5. What are the payment options?
Go, Plus, Pro, and Business can all be bought with any major credit card. For Enterprise, you’ll need to contact sales, where alternative options like invoicing are available.
Q#6. When did ChatGPT 5 officially release?
OpenAI released GPT-5 on August 7, 2025, built for both businesses and developers.
Q#7. What is Codex in ChatGPT?
Codex is OpenAI’s AI agent for software engineering, built into ChatGPT. It reads, writes, and debugs code, and automates hard coding work across the cloud, IDEs, and CLIs. It runs on advanced models like GPT-5.3-Codex.
Q#8. What is GPT-4.5, and how is it different from GPT-4o?
GPT-4.5 is one of OpenAI’s language model iterations. Against GPT-4o, it reasons better, hallucinates less, performs better overall, and has a more distinct personality.
Q#9. How many ChatGPT versions have been released?
Since November 2022, ChatGPT has gone through major updates including GPT-3.5, GPT-4, GPT-4 Turbo, GPT-4o, GPT-4.1, GPT-4.5, and GPT-5, alongside ongoing feature and interface changes.
