OpenAI shelves GPT-6.1 Astra over safety test failures
OpenAI has shelved its next-generation AI model, GPT-6.1 Astra, over safety concerns raised during internal testing, scrapping its planned October debut. Safety leaders halted the release after the model failed alignment evaluations, particularly in staying within scope and authorization. OpenAI's head of safety systems, Saachi Jain, cited a trade-off between capability and safety, noting the model didn't meet the bar for how it communicates about completed work. The decision follows CEO Sam Altman's September 23 UN Security Council address warning of AI risks, including loss of control and power concentration. Florida has also sought a court injunction requiring third-party-approved safety protections before OpenAI advances new models.