Updates OpenAI GPT Image 1.5 Replaces DALL-E as OpenAI's Default Image Generator
OpenAI's GPT Image 1.5 is now the default in ChatGPT — 4x faster, better text rendering, and 20% cheaper. DALL-E 3 API deprecated in May 2026.
The End of the DALL-E Era
OpenAI has officially moved on from the DALL-E brand. GPT Image 1.5, released in December 2025, is now the default image generation model in ChatGPT across all tiers — Free, Plus, Pro, Team, and Enterprise. Meanwhile, DALL-E 3 is scheduled for API deprecation on May 12, 2026.
The transition marks the end of DALL-E as a standalone product line. Rather than releasing a DALL-E 4, OpenAI has folded image generation directly into its GPT model family, treating images as a native capability of the core AI rather than a separate system.
GPT Image 1.5: What’s New
The new model brings substantial improvements over both DALL-E 3 and the earlier gpt-image-1:
- 4x faster generation — images appear in seconds rather than the noticeable wait with DALL-E 3
- Superior text rendering — handles dense, small text that DALL-E 3 consistently botched. This is now the best text-in-image capability of any AI model
- Precise editing — upload images and modify them while preserving lighting, composition, and identity with remarkable accuracy
- Higher resolution — up to 4096x4096 via the API, a significant jump from DALL-E 3’s maximum of 1792x1024
- 20% cheaper — lower cost per image at every quality tier compared to gpt-image-1
- Three quality levels — Low, Medium, and High give developers more granular control over the speed-quality-cost tradeoff
Free Tier Gets Image Generation
One of the most significant changes: ChatGPT’s free tier now includes 2-3 image generations per day. While limited, this removes the paywall that previously restricted DALL-E to Plus subscribers. Anyone with a ChatGPT account can now create AI images at no cost.
Plus subscribers ($20/month) get approximately 50 images per 3-hour period, while Pro subscribers ($200/month) get enhanced limits with priority access.
Developers Must Migrate by May
For API developers, the deprecation timeline is clear: DALL-E 2 and DALL-E 3 endpoints will stop functioning on May 12, 2026. OpenAI recommends migrating to gpt-image-1 or the newer GPT Image 1.5 model. The migration is straightforward — the new models use a similar API structure but offer more configuration options including quality tiers and higher resolution output.
The gpt-image-1-mini variant remains available for cost-sensitive, high-volume applications.
What This Means for Users
For ChatGPT users, nothing changes in practice — the transition already happened automatically. Images you generate in ChatGPT are already powered by GPT Image 1.5. The quality improvement, especially for images containing text, is immediately noticeable.
For developers and businesses relying on DALL-E 3 API calls, the May deadline gives roughly three months to migrate. The new models are better in every measurable way, so the migration is an upgrade rather than a compromise.