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ChatGPT Image 2 Release Date and Official Status: What Developers Need to Know

Name: EvoLink AI Model API Platform
Brand: EvoLink
Availability: InStock

EvoLink Team

Product Team

April 17, 2026

6 min read

ChatGPT Image 2 Release Date: Official Name, Status, and What Developers Should Know

If you are searching for ChatGPT Image 2, here is the short answer: OpenAI now publicly documents gpt-image-2 as an official model. It is no longer a rumor, a leaked name, or an unofficial market nickname.

But the naming confusion is real, and it matters for developers. This page clears up the confusion and gives you a practical starting point.

The Naming Problem: "ChatGPT Image 2" vs "gpt-image-2"

Many users search for "ChatGPT Image 2" because that is how they experience OpenAI's image generation — inside ChatGPT. But OpenAI's API documentation uses a different naming convention:

What people search	What OpenAI calls it	Where it appears
ChatGPT Image 2	`gpt-image-2`	API model name
ChatGPT Image	`gpt-image-1.5` or earlier	API model name
DALL-E 3	`dall-e-3`	Legacy API model name

The key distinction:

"ChatGPT Image 2" refers to the image generation experience inside the ChatGPT product.
gpt-image-2 is the official API model name developers use in code.
Users often use "ChatGPT Image 2" to refer to the same generation of OpenAI image capability, but developers should verify the exact API model name. The API name gpt-image-2 is what you actually integrate against.

If you are a developer, always use gpt-image-2 in your code and documentation. "ChatGPT Image 2" is a search term, not an API identifier.

Release Timeline

Date	Event
Early 2026	Community reports of improved ChatGPT image quality, sparking "ChatGPT Image 2" discussion
April 2026	OpenAI publishes the official `gpt-image-2` model page on their platform docs
April 2026	Token-based pricing for `gpt-image-2` appears on OpenAI's official pricing page
April 2026	`gpt-image-2` becomes available through EvoLink and other API providers

So the answer to "when did ChatGPT Image 2 come out?" is: OpenAI officially documented gpt-image-2 in April 2026.

What Changed from the Previous Generation

If you used gpt-image-1.5 (the previous default) or dall-e-3, here is what gpt-image-2 brings:

Confirmed improvements:

Newer model architecture for image generation and editing
Part of OpenAI's official GPT Image model family alongside gpt-image-1.5 and gpt-image-1
Token-based pricing model (text input, image input, image output)
Supported in both the Image API (single-shot generation and editing) and the Responses API (conversational, multi-step editing)
Background mode for long-running generation jobs (complex prompts can take up to 2 minutes)

What has not changed:

Still uses async task delivery for image results
Image links remain valid for 24 hours (same as previous models)
Still requires the same API authentication flow

What developers should verify per provider:

Exact model name exposed by each API provider may differ
Per-image pricing tiers may vary between providers
Rate limits and quotas are provider-specific

Quick Pricing Reference

OpenAI's official token pricing for gpt-image-2 at the API level:

Cost type	Price
Text input	$5.00 / 1M tokens
Cached text input	$1.25 / 1M tokens
Image input	$8.00 / 1M tokens
Cached image input	$2.00 / 1M tokens
Image output	$30.00 / 1M tokens

For comparison, gpt-image-1.5 image output is $32.00 / 1M tokens, making gpt-image-2 slightly cheaper per output token.

For detailed pricing at different quality tiers and resolutions, see the GPT Image 2 product page.

Where to Go from Here

Depending on your goal, start with the right page:

Your goal	Start here
Compare all GPT Image models side by side	GPT Image Family
Integration guide with code examples	GPT Image 2 developer guide
GPT Image 2 vs 1.5 decision	GPT Image 2 vs GPT Image 1.5
Access GPT Image 2 API directly	GPT Image 2 on EvoLink
Browse prompt examples	GPT Image 2 Prompts

FAQ

Is ChatGPT Image 2 officially released?

Yes. OpenAI publicly documents gpt-image-2 as part of their GPT Image model family. The official model page and token pricing are available on OpenAI's platform documentation.

Is "ChatGPT Image 2" the official model name?

No. The official API model name is gpt-image-2. "ChatGPT Image 2" is a common search term that refers to the same capability, but developers should use gpt-image-2 in their code.

When did ChatGPT Image 2 come out?

OpenAI published the official gpt-image-2 model documentation in April 2026. Community discussion about improved ChatGPT image generation started earlier in 2026.

Is ChatGPT Image 2 the same as DALL-E 4?

OpenAI has not used the name "DALL-E 4." The current official naming is the GPT Image family: gpt-image-2, gpt-image-1.5, and gpt-image-1. If you see "DALL-E 4" referenced elsewhere, it is not an official OpenAI name.

Can I use ChatGPT Image 2 through an API?

Yes. The model gpt-image-2 is available through OpenAI's API and through providers like EvoLink. You can use it for text-to-image generation, image editing, and reference-based workflows.

How does ChatGPT Image 2 pricing compare to the previous version?

At the token level, gpt-image-2 image output costs $30.00 / 1M tokens compared to $32.00 / 1M tokens for gpt-image-1.5. The actual cost per image depends on resolution, quality tier, and prompt complexity.

Should I switch from gpt-image-1.5 to gpt-image-2?

It depends on your workflow. If you want the newest model and are comfortable with the current pricing, gpt-image-2 is the recommended default. If you need the most established production baseline with predictable behavior, gpt-image-1.5 remains a valid choice. Read the detailed comparison for a full breakdown.