Which AI models are actually out, and which release dates are still moving targets? This guide to AI model release dates 2026 separates models you can use today from limited previews, cancelled launches, and unconfirmed claims. A model name in a headline does not mean it is available in ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or an API.
Last updated: October 9, 2026. Start with the status key, then check each row’s notes for access limits. This is a selected tracker of recent and upcoming models relevant to US and Canadian readers, not a complete archive of every model released in 2026.
Status Key
| Status | Definition |
|---|---|
| Released | Available to the public or to paying customers, confirmed on the company’s official page. |
| Announced | The company has officially stated a release date or window, but the model is not yet available. |
| Unveiled | The company has presented the model officially, but access is limited to selected partners and there is no public release date. |
| Reported | At least two credible outlets report it, but the company has not confirmed a date. |
| Cancelled | The company has confirmed it will not release the model. |
| Rumor | Leaks, unnamed sources, or social media only. Listed separately below. |
Released means customers can use the model, not that everyone can use it everywhere. Check the notes for product and plan limits. No model in this selection currently meets the Announced or Reported definitions.
The Tracker: AI Model Release Dates 2026
| Model | Company | Status | Date or Window | Source | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claude Haiku 5.5 | Anthropic | Released | Oct. 7, 2026 | Launch | Claude Platform, AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure. API model ID: claude-haiku-5-5. |
| GPT-6 in ChatGPT (Sol and Luna) | OpenAI | Released | Oct. 7, 2026 (Free and Go from Oct. 8) | System card | Rollout in the Chat tab: Sol for paid plans, Luna for Free and Go. Work and Codex models are unchanged. |
| Gemini 4 Argon | Unveiled | Sept. 30, 2026 | Google blog | Limited access to start. Public release date not announced. | |
| GPT-6.1 Sol | OpenAI | Released | Sept. 29, 2026 | Launch | Work, Codex, and API. Launch page says not yet available in Chat. |
| Claude Sonnet 5.5 | Anthropic | Released | Sept. 28, 2026 | Launch | Claude Platform and partner platforms. Access depends on product. |
| Claude Opus 5.5 | Anthropic | Released | Sept. 22, 2026 | Launch | Paid Claude plans, Claude Platform, and partner platforms. |
| GPT-6 Sol and Luna (Work, Codex, API) | OpenAI | Released | Sept. 22, 2026 | Launch | ChatGPT Work, Codex, and API. Luna also on Free and Go in the desktop app. Not in Chat at launch. |
| GPT-6 Astra | OpenAI | Released | Sept. 3, 2026 | Launch | Paid ChatGPT plans and API. Not the same model as GPT-6.1 Astra. |
| Gemini 3.8 Flash | Released | Sept. 2, 2026 | Launch | Gemini API. Gemini app for AI Pro and Ultra subscribers. | |
| Claude Fable 5.1 | Anthropic | Released | Sept. 1, 2026 | Launch | Claude and partner platforms. Shares an underlying model with Mythos 5.1, with different safeguards. |
| Claude Mythos 5.1 | Anthropic | Released | Sept. 1, 2026 | Launch; Access | Access terms differ from Fable 5.1. See Anthropic’s access page before assuming availability. |
| Gemini 3.7 Flash | Released | Aug. 13, 2026 | Launch | API and developer tools. Still supported alongside 3.8 Flash. | |
| GPT-6.1 Astra | OpenAI | Cancelled | Planned for October; scrapped, confirmed Sept. 28, 2026 | Reuters; The Next Web | OpenAI confirmed to Reuters it will not release the model after internal safety tests. No replacement announced. |
Dates mark the named release, not the day every account received access. Rows run from newest to oldest, with the cancelled model last.
What Changed Recently
- October 7: Anthropic released Claude Haiku 5.5, its lowest-cost model. The company had said on September 22, in its Opus 5.5 launch post, that Haiku 5.5 would arrive in the following weeks, without a date.
- October 7: OpenAI began rolling out GPT-6 in ChatGPT’s Chat tab with a new interactive response format called Intelligent UI. Paid plans use GPT-6 Sol. Free and Go plans use GPT-6 Luna, starting October 8. The Work and Codex models did not change.
- September 30: Google unveiled Gemini 4 Argon with limited initial access and no public release date.
- September 28: OpenAI confirmed it was scrapping GPT-6.1 Astra, the model planned for October.
Unveiled and Cancelled: Two Stories to Know
Gemini 4 Argon: unveiled, not yet public. Google introduced Gemini 4 Argon on September 30, 2026. Access starts with the US government and trusted cyber defenders in Google’s Fairwind Program. Google says it wants to make the model generally available as soon as it can do so safely, but it has not published a date. If a headline gives a Gemini 4 release date, check it against Google’s own announcement: the official facts today are the September 30 unveiling and limited access.
GPT-6.1 Astra: cancelled. OpenAI had planned to release GPT-6.1 Astra in October. On September 28, it confirmed to Reuters that it was scrapping the release after internal testing found the model did not meet its safety and alignment standards. OpenAI’s head of safety systems said it fell short on staying within scope and authorization and on how it reports its work back to users. The Next Web reports, citing the Wall Street Journal, that OpenAI will work on making its next models safer instead. No replacement model or date has been announced.
GPT-6.1 Sol, released on September 29, is a different model. Its launch does not mean Astra shipped under another name.
Rumors to Treat Carefully
No credible rumors tracked this week. When a claim about an unannounced model circulates, it will appear here as unconfirmed, with the reason it does not qualify as Reported. It moves into the main table only when the company confirms it or at least two credible outlets report it.
Are These Models Available in Canada?
Canadian availability has two layers: whether a service supports Canada, and whether that service offers the specific model or feature. A supported country does not guarantee every account gets every launch on the same day, and an app subscription does not necessarily include API usage.
OpenAI lists Canada as supported, and so does Anthropic in its country list. OpenAI also supports CAD billing for eligible web subscriptions, but it does not publish a fixed Canadian price per model. Google lists Canadian prices on its Canada plan page: Google AI Pro at C$26.99 per month and Ultra from C$139.99 per month. Those are app subscription prices, not model or API rates.
In the table, Yes means a supported service with a confirmed access route, Partly means access limited by product or eligibility, and Not announced means no Canadian route has been published.
| Model | Canada | Published CAD Pricing | Access Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| GPT-6 Sol and Luna | Yes | Not announced per model; CAD subscription billing supported | Chat rollout since Oct. 7; Work, Codex, and API since Sept. 22. Plan and usage limits apply. |
| GPT-6 Astra | Yes | Not announced per model | Paid ChatGPT and API. Account eligibility applies. |
| GPT-6.1 Sol | Partly | Not announced per model | Work, Codex, and API. Not in Chat at launch. |
| Claude Haiku, Sonnet, and Opus 5.5 | Yes | Not announced in launch sources | Canada is a supported country. Platform and plan conditions apply. |
| Claude Fable 5.1 | Yes | Not announced in launch source | Safeguards and plan limits apply. |
| Claude Mythos 5.1 | Not announced | Not announced | Access terms differ from Fable 5.1. No Canada-specific route published. |
| Gemini 3.8 Flash | Yes | AI Pro C$26.99/month; Ultra from C$139.99/month | App subscriptions. API billing is separate. |
| Gemini 3.7 Flash | Not announced | Not announced per model | Developer release. Canada-specific access not published. |
| Gemini 4 Argon | Not announced | Not announced | Limited partner access only. |
Why Can One Model Have Several Release Dates?
A presentation, a partner preview, a paid rollout, and broad availability can happen on different days, so a good calendar names the event, not just the model. Anthropic’s Fable 5 and Mythos 5 show why: they first launched on June 9, access was suspended on June 12 to comply with US export controls, and it was restored on July 1, according to Anthropic’s statement. A single release-date cell would hide that gap.
Version names can also mislead. OpenAI’s GPT-6 Sol and Luna reached Work, Codex, and the API on September 22, then ChatGPT’s Chat tab on October 7. Two product names can also share one underlying model, as with Fable 5.1 and Mythos 5.1.
How We Track Release Dates
Company launch posts, model documentation, access pages, and release notes are the primary evidence. Released requires an official source showing customer availability. Announced requires a company-published date or window. Unveiled covers an official presentation with limited access and no public date. Reported requires two credible outlets, named in the notes. Cancelled requires confirmation from the company. Rumors stay in their own section. We review this page regularly and log material corrections and status changes in the update log below.
Enzvia’s tracker marks a model Announced only when the company has published an official date or release window. This is a release reference, not a performance ranking: a newer date does not mean a model is better for your task.
FAQ
What Is the Newest AI Model Right Now?
Within this tracker, the latest release date is October 7, 2026: Claude Haiku 5.5, and GPT-6 rolling out in ChatGPT’s Chat tab. That covers this selection, not every model worldwide. The entries serve different products, so newest does not mean interchangeable.
Is Gemini 4 Released?
Not to the public. Google unveiled Gemini 4 Argon on September 30, 2026, with access starting for the US government and trusted cyber defenders. No public release date has been announced, and Canadian access has not been confirmed.
Is GPT-6.1 Astra Coming?
No. OpenAI confirmed on September 28 that it was scrapping the release after internal safety tests, and it has announced no replacement. GPT-6.1 Sol, released on September 29, is a different model.
How Can You Tell a Release Date Is Official?
Follow the source to the company’s own launch post, press release, documentation, or official account. Check that it names the model and states a date or window for the relevant audience. A news article, a partner preview, or a quoted hope is not a dated public release.
Do US and Canadian Users Get New Models on the Same Day?
Not always. A global rollout can still reach accounts in stages, and plans, product surfaces, and verification requirements can differ. Check the Canada table and the linked launch notes rather than assuming a US headline applies to your account.
Does a ChatGPT or Claude Subscription Include API Access?
Do not assume it does. App plans and API usage are usually billed separately, and credit programs have their own conditions. Check the product’s billing terms. A subscription price is not a per-token rate.
