OpenAI’s recent launch of GPT-6 Astra in early September 2026, followed by rapid point releases such as GPT-6 Sol, Luna, and GPT-6.1 Sol through late September, has anchored trader sentiment around a 2027 timeline for GPT-7. No official announcements, previews, or documentation reference a GPT-7 model, while unverified rumors about an internal “Bel” pretraining run remain unconfirmed and disconnected from any release schedule. Historical release gaps have shortened from roughly 29 months between GPT-4 and GPT-5 to 13 months for GPT-6 Astra, supporting market-implied odds that heavily favor a second-half 2027 arrival over earlier deadlines. Competitive pressure from Anthropic and Google continues, yet OpenAI’s focus on GPT-6 iteration, agent features like Dots, and safety updates suggests the next whole-number model will follow established cadence rather than accelerate.