OpenAI launches GPT-Image 1.5 with faster edits to rival Gemini’s Nano Banana Pro

AI image generation models took a major leap throughout 2025, and OpenAI is pushing that momentum into the year’s final stretch.

On Tuesday, the company released GPT-Image Model 1.5, its newest image generator, promising faster performance, stronger instruction-following, and more precise editing tools.

The new model is available immediately to all ChatGPT users worldwide and through OpenAI’s API under the name GPT-Image-1.5.

OpenAI also introduced a dedicated image creation space inside ChatGPT’s sidebar, complete with preset styles and trending designs.

The update marks a shift away from simple chat-based image prompts toward a more visual-first workflow.

“Many people’s first experience with ChatGPT involves turning a text prompt into a picture,” Fidji Simo, CEO of applications at OpenAI, wrote in a blog post.

“It’s a magical way to see what this technology can do, but the chat interface wasn’t originally designed for this.”

OpenAI says GPT-Image 1.5 runs up to four times faster than its predecessor.

The company also claims the model follows instructions more closely, especially during iterative edits.

Users can now add or remove objects, change visual styles, adjust clothing, and refine specific areas without regenerating the entire image.

That level of control addresses a long-standing weakness in generative image tools, which often rework scenes instead of making targeted changes.

“Creating and editing images is a different kind of task and deserves a space built for visuals,” Simo wrote.

OpenAI also says the model produces more legible text inside images.

Text rendering has long challenged image generators, including OpenAI’s earlier models.

Initial test images suggest improvements, though real-world testing will determine how consistent the results remain.

A creative studio shift

Beyond the model itself, OpenAI is reshaping how users interact with images in ChatGPT.

The new sidebar entry point functions more like a creative studio, offering inspiration through trending prompts and preset filters.

“The new image viewing and editing screens make it easier to create images that match your vision or get inspiration from trending prompts and preset filters,” Simo wrote.

OpenAI plans to expand visual elements across ChatGPT more broadly. Search results may soon include more images with clear sources.

The company says this could help with tasks like checking sports scores or converting measurements.

“When you’re creating, you should be able to see and shape the thing you’re making,” Simo wrote.

Competition heats up

The release comes amid intensifying competition with Google. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman reportedly declared a “code red” last month after Google’s Gemini 3 and Nano Banana Pro models topped the LMArena leaderboard.

Google has maintained momentum even after OpenAI launched GPT-5.2 last week, which the company pitched as its most advanced model for developers and professionals.

OpenAI had reportedly planned to release its next image model in early January before accelerating the timeline.

GPT-Image 1.5 also arrives shortly after OpenAI signed an agreement with Disney to bring more than 200 iconic characters to ChatGPT images and Sora videos.

Disney characters will not appear in GPT-Image 1.5 yet, with that feature expected in early 2026.

As image and video tools move closer to production-ready systems, OpenAI appears focused on speed, consistency, and control.

The company aims to close the gap between imagination and execution, one image at a time.