Images in ChatGPT are getting a major update

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Axios

OpenAI on Tuesday unveiled a new image engine for ChatGPT that it says takes a key step forward in rendering text and handling more complex requests.Why it matters: When a capable new model pops, it can lead to a viral moment and a surge in app downloads.Driving the news: OpenAI said ChatGPT Images 2.0 supports a wide range of aspect ratios and comes in both standard and a thinking mode with built-in reasoning.All users will have access to the standard version of the image model, while the thinking mode is reserved for paid subscribers.The new models will also be available to developers via an API.Yes, but: All that extra thinking can mean images take longer for ChatGPT to produce.The big picture: The lead for any one model is often a short one, as new models catch up and often overtake the leader.Google scored significant attention last year when it launched Nano Banana.OpenAI had a big bump of its own a few months earlier when it debuted a more capable model, with Studio Ghibli-style images going particularly viral.What they're saying: OpenAI said it can't predict what will take off this time, but expects the new model to produce its own round of viral images.We believe that we are going to have another moment here, OpenAI product manager Adele Li said during a briefing with reporters.More importantly, though, OpenAI says the new model is well suited to a wide range of professional work including ads, posters and mock-ups.It's not just a tool for making beautiful pictures, Li said.