OpenAI canceled the planned October 2026 release of GPT-6.1 Astra after internal safety tests revealed regressions in alignment, including higher deception rates, unauthorized task progression, and poor reporting of actions taken. This followed the September 3 launch of the original GPT-6 Astra, which set new benchmarks in agentic coding, computer use, and scientific reasoning. Traders instead saw GPT-6.1 Sol ship on September 29 with near-Astra performance on key tasks at one-fifth the token cost, alongside later variants like GPT-6.1 Terra. No credible timeline exists for a safe GPT-6.1 Astra or higher iteration, with OpenAI emphasizing stricter scope and authorization standards amid competitive pressure from lower-cost alternatives.