OpenAI just launched GPT Image 1.5 yesterday (December 16, 2025), and it’s the biggest leap in AI
image generation since DALL-E 3. With 4x faster speeds, precise editing tools, and a brand-new ChatGPT Images
interface, this isn’t just an update—it’s a complete transformation of how we create visual content.
TL;DR: What’s New in GPT Image 1.5
- ⚡ 4x faster generation than GPT Image 1
- 🎯 Precise editing without destroying original details
- 📝 Better text rendering (finally, readable signs!)
- 🎨 New ChatGPT Images tab with templates and filters
- 💰 20% cheaper API pricing for developers
- 🌐 Available now for all ChatGPT users worldwide
Speed: From Minutes to Seconds
The headline feature? 4x faster image generation. What used to take 30-60 seconds now completes in
8-15 seconds. For creators churning out social media graphics or product mockups, this speed boost is a
game-changer.
Real-World Impact:
| Task | GPT Image 1 | GPT Image 1.5 | Improvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single image generation | ~30s | ~8s | 4x faster |
| 10 variations | ~5 minutes | ~1.5 minutes | 70% time saved |
| Complex edit | ~45s | ~12s | 3.75x faster |
Precision Editing: The Real Innovation
Here’s where GPT Image 1.5 separates itself from competitors. Previous AI image editors had a fatal flaw: edit one
thing, break everything else. Change the background? Your subject’s face morphs. Add text? Lighting goes haywire.
GPT Image 1.5 fixes this.
What You Can Do Now:
- Selective Edits: “Change the car color from red to blue” → Only the car changes, everything
else stays pixel-perfect - Multi-Step Transformations: Add a person, change their outfit, adjust background lighting—all
in separate steps without degradation - Brand Consistency: Edit marketing visuals while preserving logos, fonts, and brand colors
exactly - Face Preservation: Change backgrounds or add elements without distorting facial features
The Technical Breakthrough:
OpenAI trained GPT Image 1.5 on a new dataset of “edit pairs”—before/after images showing precise transformations.
This teaches the model to:
- Identify what should change vs. what should stay
- Maintain lighting consistency across edits
- Preserve composition and perspective
- Keep human faces recognizable through transformations
Text Rendering: Finally Readable
One of AI image generation’s biggest embarrassments has been gibberish text. Try to generate a
storefront sign? You’d get “COFFEE SHPI” instead of “COFFEE SHOP.”
GPT Image 1.5 dramatically improves text accuracy.
What’s Better:
- ✅ Small text: Can now render 8-10pt font legibly
- ✅ Dense paragraphs: Multiple lines of text stay coherent
- ✅ Logos and branding: Company names and slogans render correctly
- ✅ Multiple languages: Improved support for non-English characters
Note: It’s not perfect. Complex typography or very small text (<6pt) can still be hit-or-miss.
The New ChatGPT Images Interface
OpenAI didn’t just upgrade the model—they redesigned the entire experience. The new “Images” tab in
ChatGPT is a creative studio, not just a prompt box.
Key Features:
1. Pre-Built Filters
Instead of typing “photorealistic portrait, golden hour lighting, shallow depth of field,” you click “Cinematic
Portrait” and go.
Available Filters:
- Photorealistic
- Illustration / Cartoon
- Minimalist
- 3D Render
- Vintage / Retro
- Abstract / Artistic
2. Trending Templates
See what’s popular right now. Categories like “Holiday Cards 2025,” “Social Media Headers,” or “Product Mockups” give
you starting points.
3. No-Prompt Creation
For non-technical users, you can generate images by clicking through visual options—no typing required.
4. Edit History
Every variation and edit is saved. Go back 10 iterations? Easy. This alone saves creators hours of “wait, what was
that version I liked?”
API Access: Developers Rejoice
For those building GPT Image 1.5 into their apps, the API is live with improved economics:
Pricing Breakdown:
| Feature | GPT Image 1 | GPT Image 1.5 | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Image Input (per image) | $0.0250 | $0.0200 | 20% |
| Image Output (1024×1024) | $0.0400 | $0.0320 | 20% |
| Edit Operation | $0.0300 | $0.0240 | 20% |
Developer Use Cases:
- E-commerce: Auto-generate product lifestyle shots
- Real Estate: Virtual staging and renovations
- Marketing Agencies: Rapid A/B testing of ad creatives
- Gaming: Concept art and asset generation
- Publishing: Book covers and editorial illustrations
GPT Image 1.5 vs The Competition
vs Google’s Imagen 3:
- ✅ GPT Image 1.5 wins: Speed, editing precision
- ❌ Imagen 3 wins: Resolution (can do 4K natively)
- 🟡 Tie: Overall quality
vs Midjourney v7:
- ✅ GPT Image 1.5 wins: Editing capabilities, text rendering
- ❌ Midjourney wins: Artistic coherence, “wow factor”
- ❌ Midjourney wins: Community and remixing features
vs Adobe Firefly:
- ✅ GPT Image 1.5 wins: Speed, natural language interface
- ❌ Firefly wins: Integration with Photoshop/Creative Suite
- ❌ Firefly wins: Commercial use clarity (Adobe licenses training data)
Limitations You Should Know
GPT Image 1.5 is impressive, but not perfect:
Known Issues:
- ❌ Hands are still weird: 6-finger hands happen (though less often)
- ❌ Complex scenes struggle: 5+ distinct objects can get muddled
- ❌ Photorealism has tells: Close inspection reveals AI artifacts
- ❌ No video yet: Sora (OpenAI’s video tool) remains separate
- ❌ Copyright gray area: Training data sources remain unclear
Pricing for Regular Users
If you’re not a developer, here’s what it costs via ChatGPT:
| Plan | Image Generations/Month | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT Free | ~10 images | $0 |
| ChatGPT Plus | ~100 images | $20/month |
| ChatGPT Pro | Unlimited | $200/month |
Actual limits vary based on server load and usage patterns.
Should You Use GPT Image 1.5?
✅ Use It If You:
- Need fast iteration on visual concepts
- Create lots of social media graphics
- Want precise control over edits
- Need readable text in images
- Prefer natural language over complex tools
❌ Stick with Alternatives If You:
- Need absolute photorealism (hire a photographer)
- Require provable copyright clearance (use Adobe Firefly)
- Want artistic “magic” over technical precision (try Midjourney)
- Need 4K+ resolution (use Stable Diffusion XL or Imagen 3)
Real-World Test: What We Created
I spent 2 hours testing GPT Image 1.5. Here’s what impressed me:
Test 1: Product Mockup
Prompt: “Show my new headphones in 3 lifestyle scenes: coffee shop, gym, and home office.”
Result: Generated 3 variations in 25 seconds total. Text on the headphone box was 90% legible.
Lighting consistency across scenes? Flawless.
Test 2: Blog Header Edit
Task: Take an existing blog header and change “2024” to “2025” in the image.
Result: It worked. Perfectly. Font matched, color matched, even the shadow/glow effects matched.
This would’ve taken 20 minutes in Photoshop.
Test 3: Complex Scene
Prompt: “Futuristic city skyline at sunset with flying cars, holographic billboards, and people
walking on elevated walkways.”
Result: Impressive composition, but flying cars looked generic and some billboards had gibberish
text. Not perfect, but 80% there.
The Bigger Picture: Where Is This Going?
GPT Image 1.5 isn’t just faster DALL-E. It’s OpenAI positioning ChatGPT as a creative production
tool, not just a chatbot.
What’s Coming Next (Speculation):
- Video editing: Sora integration is inevitable
- 3D model generation: OpenAI has hinted at this
- Real-time collaboration: Teams editing the same image
- Style transfer from your own images: “Make this look like my brand”
FAQs: GPT Image 1.5
Q: Can I use GPT Image 1.5 images commercially?
A: Yes, if you have ChatGPT Plus or Pro. Free tier images are for personal use only. Check OpenAI’s
Terms of Service for specifics.
Q: Does GPT Image 1.5 work on mobile?
A: Yes! The ChatGPT mobile app has full GPT Image 1.5 support, including the new Images tab.
Q: What happened to DALL-E 3?
A: OpenAI announced DALL-E 2 and DALL-E 3 will be deprecated by May 12, 2026. GPT Image models are
the future.
Q: Can I train it on my own style?
A: Not yet. Custom style training isn’t available for GPT Image 1.5, but it’s rumored for a future
update.
Q: How does it handle copyrighted characters?
A: OpenAI has content filters blocking trademarked characters, logos, and celebrity likenesses.
Requests like “Mickey Mouse” will be rejected.
Q: Is it better than Photoshop?
A: Different tools. Photoshop gives you pixel-perfect control. GPT Image 1.5 gives you speed and
natural language. Professionals will use both.
The Bottom Line
GPT Image 1.5 is the most significant image generation update of 2025. The speed alone changes workflows, but the
precision editing and improved text rendering make it a serious creative tool.
If you’re creating visual content regularly—whether for social media, marketing, or personal projects—this is worth
exploring. The ChatGPT Plus subscription ($20/month) pays for itself if you replace even a few hours of design work.
Try it yourself: Head to chat.openai.com,
click the new “Images” tab, and start creating.
Have you tried GPT Image 1.5 yet? What’s your experience compared to Midjourney or other tools? Drop your
thoughts below!
