OpenAI has released Images 2.6, a new image generation update that lets ChatGPT turn text prompts or uploaded photos into animated GIFs. The feature allows users to adjust playback speeds, inspect individual frames, and edit the animation directly inside the chat window, according to reporting by The Verge.
Previously, creating an animated image in ChatGPT required multi-step workarounds or third-party conversion tools. With the Images 2.6 rollout, you can generate a moving image from scratch or animate a static picture you upload in a single step.
How GIF creation and frame editing works
The updated model builds animation directly into the regular chat interface. According to OpenAI figures shared by The Verge, users can prompt ChatGPT with instructions like “can you make a gif of a cat dancing?” to receive a moving graphic in response.
Once ChatGPT outputs a GIF, you get playback and editing tools directly beneath the media player. You can speed up or slow down the playback speed, view the animation frame by frame, and ask the chatbot to edit individual frames before exporting or sharing the file.
This frame-by-frame editing lets users fix minor glitches or alter specific details in a loop without forcing the model to redraw the entire image from scratch. If an object pops up unnaturally in frame three, for example, you can direct ChatGPT to remove it while keeping the rest of the loop intact.
OpenAI reported that image generation speeds across ChatGPT have also increased alongside the Images 2.6 update. The company claims users now generate over 4 billion images per week across ChatGPT and its developer platform, up from 3 billion per week reported in September 2026.
Alongside the consumer update, OpenAI launched two specialized API models named GPT-Image-2.6 Flare and Sunburst for developers who want higher-quality or faster batch processing in third-party software.
Can you create GIFs for free?
OpenAI is rolling out the Images 2.6 update to all ChatGPT and Codex users across web, desktop, and mobile applications. You do not need a paid subscription to test basic GIF creation, though usage caps still apply.
In the free plan for ChatGPT, users receive access to image creation alongside text chats, but OpenAI does not publish exact numerical limits for daily image or GIF generation. Once you hit your temporary limit, the app will require you to wait before making more.
For coding and desktop tasks, Codex includes standard-speed access within the ChatGPT desktop app under the free tier. Meanwhile, competing services like Google’s Gemini provide free image creation and editing with a standard Google account, though Google reserves full video generation for paid AI tiers.
Tips for prompting animated GIFs
Because animated GIFs rely on short, repeating actions, concise prompts produce cleaner loops. When writing a prompt, focus on specifying the action, the style, and the camera angle. If you are new to giving instructions to AI, our guide on how to write better AI prompts explains how to structure text commands effectively.
When animating your own photo, upload a clear, well-lit image and specify which exact element should move. For example, you can ask the chatbot to make water ripple in a landscape photo or add fluttering leaves to a static tree, then use the built-in speed slider to refine how fast the movement occurs.
Sources
- ChatGPT will now make you animated GIFs — The Verge