OpenAI upgrades ChatGPT and Codex with GPT-5.5: ‘a new class of intelligence for real work’
Source: 9to5Mac
OpenAI says GPT‑5.5 is its smartest and most intuitive to use model yet
GPT‑5.5 lands seven weeks after the release of GPT‑5.4, which arrived on March 5.
OpenAI says the newest model “understands what you’re trying to do faster” and that it can “carry more of the work itself” compared to earlier models. It is especially better at multi‑part tasks that require multiple steps, such as planning, using tools, and checking its work.
Highlighted gains
- Agentic coding
- Computer use
- Knowledge work
- Early scientific research
OpenAI notes that these improvements come without sacrificing speed or increasing token usage.
API pricing changes with GPT‑5.5
GPT‑5.5 is priced at roughly 2× the cost of GPT‑5.4 for API usage.
API pricing for GPT‑5.5
- Input: $5.00 / 1 M tokens
- Cached input: $0.50 / 1 M tokens
- Output: $30.00 / 1 M tokens
API pricing for GPT‑5.4
- Input: $2.50 / 1 M tokens
- Cached input: $0.25 / 1 M tokens
- Output: $15.00 / 1 M tokens
OpenAI also emphasizes new safeguards and collaboration with trusted early‑access partners to reduce misuse while preserving beneficial access.
GPT‑5.5 Thinking and Pro
Two variants are available:
- Thinking – “unlocks faster help for harder problems, with smarter and more concise answers to help you move through complex work more efficiently.”
- Pro – praised by early testers as a “step up in both the difficulty and quality of work ChatGPT can take on, with latency improvements that make it much more practical for demanding tasks.”
A short 40‑second video demonstrates GPT‑5.5 in Codex.
Availability
- ChatGPT: GPT‑5.5 Thinking is available to Plus, Pro, Business, and Enterprise users. GPT‑5.5 Pro is available to Pro, Business, and Enterprise users.
- Codex: GPT‑5.5 is available for Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, Edu, and Go plans with a 400 K context window. It also offers a Fast mode that generates tokens 1.5× faster for 2.5× the cost.
The full announcement can be read here.
More from OpenAI this week
- Last week, Codex for Mac was overhauled with expanded computer‑use capabilities.
- This week, OpenAI released the improved ChatGPT Images 2 for higher‑quality image generation.
“We’ve expanded browser use so Codex can interact with web apps, test flows, click through pages, capture screenshots, and iterate on what it sees until it completes the… ” – OpenAI Developers on Twitter (April 23 2026)