OpenAI releases GPT-5.5, a step up in intelligence with the same latency

Some advanced models lose speed when upgraded, but not so for OpenAI’s latest. GPT-5.5 handles more demanding tasks at a faster clip — and «excels» at agentic coding, computer use, knowledge work and scientific research.

It also matches the GPT-5.4 on token latency, «while performing at a much higher level of intelligence,» OpenAI says.

Codex is much improved by the new model, with better code debugging, document and spreadsheet creation, use of software and moving across toolsets.

It’s also strong on benchmarks, using significantly fewer tokens to complete the same Codex tasks as GPT-5.4.

On computer use and scientific research, it should get higher quality results with fewer tokens or retries, and requires less guidance, OpenAI says.

The model is more expensive than GPT-5.4, clocking in at $5 per million input tokens and $30 per million output tokens — almost twice the cost.

Read more: OpenAI’s announcement, writeups at CNBC, Axios and The Verge.