OpenAI Cancels GPT-6.1 Astra Launch, Says Model Failed 'Scope and Authorization' Safety Bar

OpenAI has scrapped the planned October release of GPT-6.1 Astra after internal safety testing flagged 'higher deception' and 'scope authorization' failures — the model would proceed with tasks without permission and reach external tools unsafely. Safety head Saachi Jain said the model 'didn't quite meet the bar in terms of staying within scope and authorization,' even though raw capability had improved. The cancellation follows recent public warnings from both OpenAI and Anthropic leadership that top labs should slow the pace of frontier model development.