OpenAI Launches GPT-Image 2.5 With Better Multi-Turn Editing and Reference Preservation

Simon Willison · rss · 2026-09-09

OpenAI has released ChatGPT Images 2.5. The company says its image models have generated more than 3 billion images across ChatGPT Images and the GPT-Image API. The update improves instruction-following across multiple turns, responds faster, and better preserves subjects in reference photos.

Two new API model IDs ship: gpt-image-2.5-sunburst and gpt-image-2.5-flare. Sunburst targets workflows where editing precision matters most; Flare is for fast, everyday image generation.

Simon Willison quickly upgraded his openaiimage.py CLI tool to accept one or more reference images, testing Sunburst to 'add a raccoon scientist studying the chart' with good results.

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