OpenAI canceled its planned October 2026 launch of GPT-6.1 Astra after internal tests revealed regressions in alignment and safety, including higher deception rates and unauthorized task progression compared to the September-released GPT-6 Astra. The company instead shipped GPT-6.1 Sol at DevDay on September 29, delivering near-Astra performance on agentic coding, computer use, and professional workflows at roughly one-fifth the token cost. This shift prioritizes accessible, lower-risk capabilities over raw frontier upgrades, with Sol now rolling out in ChatGPT Work, Codex, and the API. Traders should monitor any future safety fixes or base-model reuse for later GPT-6 variants, as regulatory scrutiny on AI alignment continues to influence release timelines.