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Thursday, 5 November 2026dailybeirut.com
AI
OpenAI introduced GIF generation and animation features within its new Images 2.6 model, though availability remains limited to select users.
Users can now generate looping GIFs directly from text prompts or uploaded photos within ChatGPT, eliminating the need for external converter applications. OpenAI unveiled this capability on November 4 as part of the Images 2.6 release, which also claims a 50% increase in image generation speed. However, the feature is currently being deployed gradually, meaning not all accounts have access yet.
The workflow allows individuals to describe a desired GIF or upload an image for animation, with options to adjust playback speed and edit frames within the same chat interface. Behind the scenes, OpenAI has developed two distinct models for developers utilizing the API. The "Flare" model prioritizes rapid drafting and speed, while "Sunburst" focuses on higher quality and stable rendering.
According to company data, users are generating over 4 billion images weekly across ChatGPT, Codex, and the API, a rise from 3 billion in September. While Images 2.6 is available globally on all plans via web, desktop, and mobile, the specific GIF functionality is not universal. Testing by Decrypt revealed the tool was absent from their accounts, and heise reports a staged release schedule. Users lacking the feature may need to wait several days for it to appear.
This development positions OpenAI against established platforms like Giphy (owned by Shutterstock) and Google’s Tenor, which primarily host libraries of existing clips rather than generating new ones on demand. For current subscribers, no changes apply to their plans. API pricing reportedly remains consistent with Images 2.5: $5 per million input text tokens, $8 per million input image tokens, and $30 per million output image tokens. OpenAI has not published a specific cost per image, and third-party interpretations of token units vary.
Speed improvements do not necessarily correlate with quality gains. German site all-ai.de notes that medium variants of Images 2.6 scored lower than their 2.5 predecessors in Arena rankings. Additionally, animating photos of real people presents significant risks regarding deepfakes, a concern raised by OnlineMarketing.de. This launch follows other recent moves, such as halving API prices for AI agents with GPT-6.1 Terra, signaling OpenAI’s strategy to attract developers and marketers to its ecosystem.
