OpenAI’s September 22, 2026 launch of GPT-6 Luna—the cost-efficient tier alongside Sol in the new GPT-6 family—sets the baseline for any 6.1+ successor. The model delivers 1M context, 50% lower API pricing than GPT-5.6 Luna, and strong efficiency benchmarks while rolling out to ChatGPT Work, Codex, and the API for paid users. OpenAI’s recent cadence, including the earlier GPT-6 Astra flagship and point-release pattern after GPT-5.6, drives trader consensus that the company will continue iterating first. Competitive pressure from Anthropic’s Claude Opus 5.5 and Google’s Gemini updates adds urgency but has not yet produced a Luna-equivalent naming or capability match. Key near-term catalysts include OpenAI’s next developer or earnings updates and any confirmed pretraining or safety review timelines that could accelerate or delay a 6.1+ release.