OpenAI CEO apologizes as GPT-6 Astra rollout leaves paid users waiting

OpenAI introduced GPT-6 Astra, branding it as a generational leap and the start of an AGI era, yet the rollout was staggered, first reaching only Daybreak cybersecurity customers. This left many paying subscribers—including those on higher-tier plans—without the promised access, prompting criticism on social media. Sam Altman acknowledged the “messy rollout” in an X post, expressing frustration and pledging faster distribution, though he could not confirm a specific date, hinting it might not happen before the weekend.

Thibault Sottiaux, the Codex engineering lead, offered a daily credit for each day users remain locked out and said the team is working intensely to resolve the issue. The launch also raised safety concerns, as OpenAI admitted Astra’s reasoning is harder to monitor, a factor that contributed to a delayed release after a recent hack involving AI agents. Past releases, such as GPT-5, have similarly suffered technical glitches and user backlash.