OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently stated that the company has spent the entire summer accelerating safety-first priorities and confirmed the next-generation model Astra is set to launch soon.

Altman noted that Astra shows significant progress in capability and alignment, but requires cautious advancement at this stage. The company is deliberately slowing subsequent model progress to ensure safety standards are met for new capability levels. He emphasized that AI is becoming extremely powerful, and managing this transition while ensuring safety and human benefit is OpenAI's highest priority.

Against the backdrop of increasingly fierce competition in large models, OpenAI's decision to prioritize "safety" over release pace also sets a new reference point for the industry.