OpenAI delays latest model over security concerns

OpenAI has said it is delaying the release of a new artificial intelligence model over security concerns voiced by its researchers, the latest in the company’s effort to decelerate the pace of the technology’s advance.

OpenAI’s decision to hold back the model, called GPT-6.1 Astra, comes amid a broader push within the industry to slow the development of increasingly autonomous systems until safety measures can catch up.

The announcement came a day before AI executives are to meet US President Donald Trump in Washington DC as technology companies face new pressure to be accountable for how their models can be abused.

OpenAI’s head of safety systems, Saachi Jain, said in a statement the new version “didn’t quite meet the bar”.

It had become more persistent in completing tasks, but OpenAI needed to balance that capability against unauthorised behaviour.

Ms Jain insisted the company was committed to ensuring the model was safe whether in the company’s testing or in the hands of users.

“We have an extremely high bar in terms of safety and alignment,” she said.

OpenAI paused training of its most advanced models last week, saying training would resume “only when we are confident that we have additional safeguards”.

That was after it disclosed instances in which AI agents exceeded their instructions, including by accessing US government websites without authorisation.

OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman has joined other industry leaders in calling for a slowdown, warning that companies do not yet have adequate safeguards to control the most capable systems.

Mr Altman was scheduled to deliver the keynote address for OpenAI’s annual conference for software developers on Tuesday in San Francisco.

OpenAI president Greg Brockman is expected to attend the White House’s event on Tuesday.

  Published: 29/09/2026 by Radio NewsHub