OpenAI shares progress on using ChatGPT and Codex for physical engineering design

Nov 4

1. 13:35

   Phoenix Technology

   OpenAI's new model GPT 6.2 Astra suspected of being in gray testing, internal model engineering benchmark score improves 47.3%

   Multiple overseas developers discovered a new model identifier named gpt-6.2-astra in Codex usage statistics, with some accounts showing a call share of 19.8%, but the model selection interface still displays GPT 6 Astra. OpenAI published a technical blog post on November 3, disclosing that an unnamed internal model achieved an average score of 0.875 on the BenchCAD 2.0 engineering benchmark, an improvement of about 47.3% over the current GPT 6 Astra's 0.594. OpenAI has not yet confirmed the existence or release date of GPT 6.2 Astra, nor has it stated whether the internal model corresponds to this version.

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2. 09:28

   Shao MengSelected

   OpenAI Used GPT-6 Astra to Design a Hardware Device in One Week

   OpenAI announced progress made by GPT-6 Astra in physical engineering: two employees used Astra to design from scratch a small device that can converse with Codex, with no direct manual modifications throughout the entire process; the design was completed in less than a week, and a contract manufacturer produced a small batch of prototypes in less than a month. OpenAI said the model still cannot reliably account for factory production constraints, tolerances, and assembly details, and is still several rounds of review away from mass production, so it is publicly recruiting industry partners. On BenchCAD 2.0, GPT-6 Astra scored 0.594 at its highest reasoning setting, while an unreleased internal new model averaged 0.875. OpenAI is also expanding its partnership with Chip Ganassi Racing to test converting 3D scan data into editable CAD models and 2D production drawings, and newly announced a research collaboration with Mazda on aerodynamics and crash safety.

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3. 06:56

   Phoenix Tech

   OpenAI Uses GPT-6 Astra to Design Hardware from Scratch, Prototype in One Week

   OpenAI's hardware team used GPT-6 Astra to design from scratch a device that can converse with Codex. Two members completed the design in under a week as a side project, and a contract manufacturer produced a small batch of prototypes in less than a month. Astra handled the appearance, enclosure structure, component selection and PCB layout, UI, and the firmware and software integration plan connecting to Codex. OpenAI said Astra did not always fully consider manufacturer capacity constraints, tolerance requirements, and assembly details, and the device still needs several rounds of review and revision to reach mass-production standards; since February of this year, its hardware team's token usage of the model has grown 23-fold.

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4. 04:15

   The Decoder

   OpenAI says GPT-6 Astra designed a hardware device from scratch in under a week

   OpenAI says its hardware team used GPT-6 Astra to design a device that lets users converse with the Codex coding agent, completing it as a side project in under a week. Astra handled all stages including enclosure design, PCB layout with component selection and routing, firmware, and the user interface; a contract manufacturer produced a small number of prototypes in under a month, but because Astra did not always account for manufacturing constraints, tolerances, and assembly details, it went through several rounds of revisions. OpenAI also says an internal model with undisclosed details scored 0.875 on BenchCAD 2.0, while GPT-6 Astra scored 0.594 at its highest reasoning level; its hardware team uses Codex and ChatGPT in areas such as robotics and compute infrastructure to handle CAD models, manufacturing drawings, and simulations, with token usage up 23-fold since February.

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5. 04:02

   The Rundown AI (X)Related discussion

   The Rundown AI (X) joined this discussion ↗

   This post contributes to heat; it is not a formal report or confirmed fact.

6. 03:00

   Unite.AI

   OpenAI Announces GPT-6 Astra Physical Engineering Test Projects

   On November 3, 2026, OpenAI announced a set of physical product engineering test projects, including a test device designed by GPT-6 Astra, an expanded engineering partnership with Chip Ganassi Racing, and a vehicle design research collaboration with Mazda. In the device experiment, Astra independently defined the functional requirements, designed the enclosure and circuit board, and generated the firmware and software integration; two team members completed the design as a side project in under a week, and a contract manufacturer produced a small batch of prototypes in under a month. OpenAI said the hardware team's token-based model usage has grown 23-fold since February, but Astra was unable to consistently account for manufacturers' mass-production constraints, tolerances, and assembly requirements, and still requires multiple rounds of review and iteration.

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7. 02:56

   OpenAIFirst-party

   OpenAI Recruits Engineers to Co-Build ChatGPT Hardware Design

   OpenAI says ChatGPT and Codex are helping engineers build for the physical world, covering mechanical design, electrical engineering, and simulation. Two team members once used GPT-6 Astra to design, in under a week, a prototype device that converses with Codex; Astra handled the enclosure, circuit boards, interface, and software, but manufacturing still requires multiple rounds of review and iteration. OpenAI says these are still early steps and is recruiting engineers, engineering firms, and software partners to take part in the follow-up work.

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8. 02:56

   OpenAIFirst-party

   Two OpenAI members used GPT-6 Astra to design a prototype device for conversing with Codex in under a week

   Two OpenAI team members, with the help of GPT-6 Astra, designed a prototype device for conversing with Codex as a side project in under a week. Astra handled the design of the enclosure, circuit board, interface, and software, but manufacturing still requires multiple rounds of review and iteration. OpenAI also said it is working with Chip Ganassi Racing to convert 3D scans into editable CAD models and manufacturing drawings, and exploring new vehicle design through simulation with Mazda.

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9. 02:56

   OpenAIFirst-party

   OpenAI Shares Hardware Engineering Progress of ChatGPT and Codex

   OpenAI says ChatGPT and Codex are helping engineers build for the physical world, and shared progress in mechanical design, electrical engineering, and simulation: both helping its hardware team iterate faster and testing new workflows with industry partners. The thread mentions that two OpenAI members used GPT-6 Astra to design a prototype device that converses with Codex in under a week; Astra handled the enclosure, circuit boards, interface, and software, while manufacturing still requires multiple rounds of review and iteration; OpenAI also partnered with Chip Ganassi Racing to convert 3D scans into editable CAD models and manufacturing drawings, and with Mazda to explore new vehicle designs through simulation.

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