OpenAI just made ChatGPT images 4x faster and easier on the eyes — now CEO Sam Altman faces the GPU crunch

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Last year, OpenAI surprised everyone with ‘Shipmas’ – a 12-day period where they released a flurry of new products and features, like the $200-per-month ChatGPT Pro. Now, they’re quietly doing something similar, though on a smaller scale.

Last week, our company released GPT-5.2, largely in reaction to Google’s Gemini 3. Gemini 3 initially caused CEO Sam Altman to express serious concern, even declaring a “code red” internally. However, Altman now believes the company has weathered the worst of it, and he anticipates being past this challenge by January. He’s shared that Gemini 3 didn’t affect ChatGPT’s performance as much as originally feared.

OpenAI’s CEO said they had some surprises for users this week. Today, they revealed new images created by ChatGPT, which Sam Altman described as a fun addition.

ChatGPT Images uses OpenAI’s latest technology for creating images. OpenAI says this new model is faster – generating images up to four times quicker – and can make accurate changes without losing important details.

ChatGPT users can now widely access GPT-1.5 Images, and it’s also available through the API. OpenAI has added a new feature to ChatGPT that makes creating images easier and more inspiring, helping users explore their creativity effortlessly.

ChatGPT’s updated image feature is designed to be more accurate and follow your instructions closely. It will also maintain important details in images you upload, such as lighting, how things are arranged, and how people look.

This technology delivers results that truly reflect what you want—giving you better photo edits, more realistic virtual try-ons for clothes and hairstyles, and creative filters and effects that still keep your images looking natural and authentic.

OpenAI

I’ve found that this model has significantly improved when it comes to editing. It’s now much simpler for users like me to refine outputs by adding, deleting, or combining elements to get exactly what we need.

The new model includes pre-set styles and suggestions, meaning you can often get great results without even typing in a specific request. OpenAI says it’s also much better at following directions than the previous version. This allows for more accurate editing and the creation of complex images where all the elements work together as you envision.

The updated model also displays text more clearly, even when it’s small or packed closely together. Plus, OpenAI has made it simpler to create images from within ChatGPT. You can now find a dedicated image area in the sidebar of the mobile app and on the ChatGPT website.

Back in 2023, Jack Dorsey, the co-founder of Twitter and its former CEO, predicted that within 5 to 10 years, it would be incredibly difficult to distinguish between what’s real and what’s fake – almost like living in a simulation. With the development of advanced tools that create realistic images, such as Google’s Nano Banana and the latest version of ChatGPT Images, Dorsey’s concerns are starting to appear increasingly accurate.

OpenAI’s release of ChatGPT-4o earlier this year quickly became a viral sensation, inspiring a trend of Studio Ghibli-style memes. However, this popularity also raised concerns about copyright. The launch was incredibly successful, with ChatGPT gaining over a million new users in less than an hour, largely driven by the high demand for these Ghibli-inspired creations – a demand Sam Altman described as “biblical.”

Sam Altman explained that OpenAI had to take some unusual steps, like temporarily limiting access, due to incredibly high demand for memes inspired by Studio Ghibli. He jokingly said their computer processors were overheating from the strain, stating, “Our GPUs are melting.”

Even with a renewed partnership with Microsoft and the ability to secure deals with companies like SoftBank and Oracle to expand data center capacity beyond Microsoft’s own, it’s still uncertain whether OpenAI has enough computing resources to handle a potential increase in demand for ChatGPT images if its large user base becomes highly engaged.

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2025-12-17 15:10