{ "@context": "https://schema.org", "@id": "https://aggr.aymericbeaumet.com/items/simonwillison-net/2026-09-08-introducing-chatgpt-images-2-5/#webpage", "@type": [ "WebPage", "ArchiveComponent" ], "articleBody": "**[Introducing ChatGPT Images 2.5](https://openai.com/index/introducing-chatgpt-images-2-5/)**. OpenAI's image generation models are apparently used \"more than 3 billion images across ChatGPT Images and the GPT‑Image models in the API\". This latest release improves their instruction-following ability across multiple turns, responds faster, and \"is better at preserving the subjects in your reference photos\".\n\nThere are two new model IDs in the API: `gpt-image-2.5-sunburst` and `gpt-image-2.5-flare`. Based [on this](https://developers.openai.com/api/docs/guides/image-generation#overview) I think Sunburst is the stronger option:\n\n> Choose Sunburst for workflows where editing precision matters most, and Flare for fast, high-quality everyday image generation.\n\nI [upgraded](https://github.com/simonw/tools/pull/333) my [openai\\_image.py](https://tools.simonwillison.net/python/#openai_imagepy) CLI tool to support passing in one or more reference images, so now this works:\n\n```\nuv run https://tools.simonwillison.net/python/openai_image.py \\\n 'add a raccoon scientist studying the chart thoughtfully' \\\n -i https://static.simonwillison.net/static/2026/openai-agent-usage.webp \\\n -m gpt-image-2.5-sunburst\n```\n\nThis is the [original image](https://static.simonwillison.net/static/2026/openai-agent-usage.webp), and here's what I got back from that prompt to \"add a raccoon scientist studying the chart thoughtfully\":\n\n![Line chart with cartoon illustration. Title: \\\"Usage of internal coding agents is increasing significantly—Median researcher\\\". Y-axis labeled \\\"Daily $ / researcher\\\" from 0 to 700; x-axis shows Feb 2026, Apr 2026, Jun 2026, Aug 2026. A blue line stays near zero through April, rises gradually to around 150 by June and July, then climbs steeply to about 600 by late August. In the foreground a cartoon raccoon in glasses and a white lab coat, chin in hand, holds a clipboard at a desk with a mug bearing the OpenAI logo, some printed charts, and a stack of three books titled \\\"AI AGENTS\\\", \\\"SOFTWARE ENGINEERING\\\", and \\\"PRODUCTIVITY\\\". An OpenAI logo appears in the top right corner.](https://static.simonwillison.net/static/2026/racoon-chart.webp)\n", "authors": [], "captured_at": "2026-09-08T22:56:52.093968329+00:00", "category": "programming", "content_html": "

Introducing ChatGPT Images 2.5. OpenAI's image generation models are apparently used "more than 3 billion images across ChatGPT Images and the GPT‑Image models in the API". This latest release improves their instruction-following ability across multiple turns, responds faster, and "is better at preserving the subjects in your reference photos".

\n

There are two new model IDs in the API: gpt-image-2.5-sunburst and gpt-image-2.5-flare. Based on this I think Sunburst is the stronger option:

\n
\n

Choose Sunburst for workflows where editing precision matters most, and Flare for fast, high-quality everyday image generation.

\n
\n

I upgraded my openai_image.py CLI tool to support passing in one or more reference images, so now this works:

\n
uv run https://tools.simonwillison.net/python/openai_image.py \\\n  'add a raccoon scientist studying the chart thoughtfully' \\\n  -i https://static.simonwillison.net/static/2026/openai-agent-usage.webp \\\n  -m gpt-image-2.5-sunburst\n
\n

This is the original image, and here's what I got back from that prompt to "add a raccoon scientist studying the chart thoughtfully":

\n

\"Line

\n", "content_markdown": "**[Introducing ChatGPT Images 2.5](https://openai.com/index/introducing-chatgpt-images-2-5/)**. OpenAI's image generation models are apparently used \"more than 3 billion images across ChatGPT Images and the GPT‑Image models in the API\". This latest release improves their instruction-following ability across multiple turns, responds faster, and \"is better at preserving the subjects in your reference photos\".\n\nThere are two new model IDs in the API: `gpt-image-2.5-sunburst` and `gpt-image-2.5-flare`. Based [on this](https://developers.openai.com/api/docs/guides/image-generation#overview) I think Sunburst is the stronger option:\n\n> Choose Sunburst for workflows where editing precision matters most, and Flare for fast, high-quality everyday image generation.\n\nI [upgraded](https://github.com/simonw/tools/pull/333) my [openai\\_image.py](https://tools.simonwillison.net/python/#openai_imagepy) CLI tool to support passing in one or more reference images, so now this works:\n\n```\nuv run https://tools.simonwillison.net/python/openai_image.py \\\n 'add a raccoon scientist studying the chart thoughtfully' \\\n -i https://static.simonwillison.net/static/2026/openai-agent-usage.webp \\\n -m gpt-image-2.5-sunburst\n```\n\nThis is the [original image](https://static.simonwillison.net/static/2026/openai-agent-usage.webp), and here's what I got back from that prompt to \"add a raccoon scientist studying the chart thoughtfully\":\n\n![Line chart with cartoon illustration. Title: \\\"Usage of internal coding agents is increasing significantly—Median researcher\\\". Y-axis labeled \\\"Daily $ / researcher\\\" from 0 to 700; x-axis shows Feb 2026, Apr 2026, Jun 2026, Aug 2026. A blue line stays near zero through April, rises gradually to around 150 by June and July, then climbs steeply to about 600 by late August. In the foreground a cartoon raccoon in glasses and a white lab coat, chin in hand, holds a clipboard at a desk with a mug bearing the OpenAI logo, some printed charts, and a stack of three books titled \\\"AI AGENTS\\\", \\\"SOFTWARE ENGINEERING\\\", and \\\"PRODUCTIVITY\\\". An OpenAI logo appears in the top right corner.](https://static.simonwillison.net/static/2026/racoon-chart.webp)\n", "dateCreated": "2026-09-08T22:56:52.093968329+00:00", "date_created": "2026-09-08T22:46:33+00:00", "date_modified": "2026-09-08T22:46:33+00:00", "date_published": "2026-09-08T22:46:33+00:00", "description": "Introducing ChatGPT Images 2.5 OpenAI's image generation models are apparently used \"more than 3 billion images across ChatGPT Images and the GPT‑Image models in the API\". This latest release improves their instruction-following ability…", "external_url": "https://simonwillison.net/2026/Sep/8/introducing-chatgpt-images-25/", "git": { "commit": "ebb0941c5c06a2ab2377342d607535262a3e969e", "path": "items/simonwillison-net/2026/09/2026-09-08-introducing-chatgpt-images-2-5.md", "permalink": "https://github.com/aymericbeaumet/aggr-instance/blob/ebb0941c5c06a2ab2377342d607535262a3e969e/items/simonwillison-net/2026/09/2026-09-08-introducing-chatgpt-images-2-5.md" }, "id": "urn:aggr:item:e4dfa15195675d509474ee51b2caf5a06d465acd", "isBasedOn": { "@id": "https://simonwillison.net/2026/Sep/8/introducing-chatgpt-images-25/" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://simonwillison.net/2026/Sep/8/introducing-chatgpt-images-25/", "@type": "CreativeWork", "archivedAt": { "@id": "https://aggr.aymericbeaumet.com/items/simonwillison-net/2026-09-08-introducing-chatgpt-images-2-5/#webpage" }, "dateModified": "2026-09-08T22:46:33+00:00", "datePublished": "2026-09-08T22:46:33+00:00", "headline": "Introducing ChatGPT Images 2.5", "timeRequired": "PT1M", "url": "https://simonwillison.net/2026/Sep/8/introducing-chatgpt-images-25/", "wordCount": 166 }, "name": "Archived snapshot: Introducing ChatGPT Images 2.5", "preview": null, "reading_minutes": 1, "replicated_at": null, "source": "simonwillison-net", "source_name": "Simon Willison's Weblog", "summary": "Introducing ChatGPT Images 2.5 OpenAI's image generation models are apparently used \"more than 3 billion images across ChatGPT Images and the GPT‑Image models in the API\". This latest release improves their instruction-following ability across multiple turns, responds faster, and \"is better at preserving the subjects in your reference photos\". There are two new model IDs in the API: gpt-image-2.5-sunburst and gpt-image-2.5-flare. Based on this I think Sunburst is the stronger option: Choose Sunburst for workflows where editing precision matters most, and Flare for fast, high-quality everyday image generation. I upgraded my openai_image.py CLI tool to support passing in one or more reference images, so now this works: uv run https://tools.simonwillison.net/python/openai_image.py \\ 'add a raccoon scientist studying the chart thoughtfully' \\ -i https://static.simonwillison.net/static/2026/openai-agent-usage.webp \\ -m gpt-image-2.5-sunburst This is the original image, and here's what I got back from that prompt to \"add a raccoon scientist studying the chart thoughtfully\": Tags: tools, ai, openai, generative-ai, uv, text-to-image", "tags": [ "ai", "generative-ai", "openai", "text-to-image", "tools", "uv" ], "temporalCoverage": "2026-09-08T22:56:52.093968329+00:00", "title": "Introducing ChatGPT Images 2.5", "url": "https://aggr.aymericbeaumet.com/items/simonwillison-net/2026-09-08-introducing-chatgpt-images-2-5/", "word_count": 166 }