OpenAI may be getting ready for its next major AI model, and the latest clues are pointing toward an imminent launch of Astra.
According to reports and posts circulating among AI researchers and leakers, Astra could arrive as soon as this week, although a launch next week remains possible. The model is also rumored to be heading to Codex, OpenAI’s coding-focused platform.
The biggest question, however, is what OpenAI will actually call it. Astra could reportedly launch as GPT-6, but another possibility is that OpenAI releases it under a GPT-5.7 name.
The “MewFour” Clue Is Raising Eyebrows
One of the more interesting pieces of evidence involves an internal name reportedly linked to Astra: “mewfour.”
On August 7, OpenAI reportedly removed “mewfour” references from 52 pull requests, with the changes happening just 2 hours and 34 minutes after OpenAI published its cybersecurity-related Astra post.
Even more interestingly, six days later, the same “mewfour” name reportedly appeared in the edit history of OpenAI’s Codex GitHub repository.
That timing has fueled speculation that MewFour could represent a late-stage internal checkpoint or release candidate for Astra.
None of this confirms a public launch, but the activity is certainly getting attention.
Astra Could Be Close to Release
Earlier reports had already suggested that OpenAI was preparing Astra for an imminent release. Online discussions surrounding the model describe Astra as a major new pretraining effort rather than simply another incremental update to the existing GPT-5.6 lineup.
The latest MewFour clues add another layer to that speculation.
If MewFour really is a release candidate, OpenAI may already be in the final stages of internal testing. That would make a launch this week or next week plausible, although there is still no official release date.
It is also worth remembering that internal model names and repository references don’t necessarily translate directly into public product names or launch schedules.
Astra Is Reportedly Coming to Codex
Another important part of the leak is Astra’s rumored connection with Codex.
If Astra does become available through Codex, it could indicate that OpenAI sees the model as particularly useful for advanced coding and long-running agentic workloads.
That would fit with the broader direction of OpenAI’s recent model development, where increasingly capable systems are being designed not just to answer questions but to work through complex tasks over longer periods.
For developers, an Astra-powered Codex could therefore be one of the most interesting parts of the launch.
GPT-6 or GPT-5.7?
The naming remains one of the biggest mysteries.
There are currently two broad possibilities:
- GPT-6: Astra becomes OpenAI’s next major generation and receives the expected GPT-6 branding.
- GPT-5.7: OpenAI keeps Astra within the GPT-5 generation and gives it a smaller version-number bump.
The uncertainty is understandable because OpenAI’s recent model naming has become increasingly complicated. A model’s internal architecture, product name and public model family don’t necessarily have to follow the same numbering scheme.
So while calling Astra “GPT-6” makes sense based on its reported scale and capabilities, it should still be treated as speculation.
Why the Timing Matters
The timing of the reported MewFour activity is what makes this leak particularly interesting.
A model entering a release-candidate stage would suggest that OpenAI has moved beyond simply training experimental versions and is preparing something much closer to a production deployment.
At the same time, Astra’s reported cybersecurity capabilities could complicate the launch. Previous reports and online discussions have suggested that OpenAI has been evaluating the model carefully because of its potentially powerful cyber capabilities.
That means even if Astra is technically ready, OpenAI could still delay its public release while additional safety testing is completed.
Don’t Treat the Leak as a Launch Confirmation
For now, Astra remains an unconfirmed OpenAI project from the perspective of a public launch announcement.
The MewFour references, Codex activity and previous leak reports make the possibility of an imminent release more interesting, but they don’t guarantee that Astra will arrive this week.
OpenAI could also change the model’s name, delay the rollout or release Astra in a limited preview before making it broadly available.
Still, if the current reports are accurate, we may not have to wait much longer.
GPT-6 Astra Could Be OpenAI’s Next Big AI Moment
The combination of a possible release candidate, renewed MewFour references and reported Codex integration has put Astra back in the spotlight.
If OpenAI launches it this week or next week, the bigger story may not simply be whether it is called GPT-6 or GPT-5.7. The more important question will be how much better it is at long-running reasoning, coding, autonomous work and complex real-world tasks.
For now, the safest prediction is simple: Astra appears to be getting closer, but the launch date and final branding remain unconfirmed.
If the MewFour clues are genuine, however, OpenAI could have something ready to announce very soon.
Update: This article will be updated as more reliable information about Astra, MewFour, Codex availability and OpenAI’s final model naming emerges.
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