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On November 4, 2026, OpenAI said it is working with engineers at Chip Ganassi Racing to convert 3D scans into editable CAD models and manufacturing drawings, while also collaborating with Mazda to explore new vehicle designs through simulation. OpenAI said engineers review the model outputs and help identify areas where the models need improvement. The following day, reports further stated that OpenAI's forward-deployed engineers worked with Mazda's aerodynamics and crash safety engineers, using GPT-6 Astra in Codex to explore different front-end shapes, simulate airflow, and find designs that can reduce drag; Mazda chief engineer Akihiro Nakata said the model can test dozens of design variants. The reports also mentioned that OpenAI expanded its collaboration with Chip Ganassi Racing to test a workflow for converting 3D scans into editable CAD models and 2D manufacturing drawings. No further progress has been disclosed at present.
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OpenAI's Codex powers Mazda aerodynamics engineeringDevelopments
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Nov 5
Analytics India Magazine
OpenAI's Codex powers Mazda aerodynamics engineering
OpenAI's forward-deployed engineers worked with Mazda's aerodynamics and crash safety engineers, using GPT-6 Astra in Codex to explore different front-end shapes, simulate airflow, and find designs that can reduce drag. Mazda chief engineer Akihiro Nakata said the model can test dozens of design variants. OpenAI is also expanding its collaboration with Chip Ganassi Racing, testing a workflow that converts 3D scans into editable CAD models and 2D manufacturing drawings.
Nov 4
cnBeta
OpenAI's new internal model scores about 47% higher than GPT 6 Astra on BenchCAD 2.0
In the blog post "Accelerating Engineering Development for the Physical World," OpenAI disclosed that an unnamed internal model achieved an average score of 0.875 on the BenchCAD 2.0 engineering benchmark under the highest reasoning setting, while the current GPT 6 Astra scored 0.594, a relative improvement of about 47.3%. The benchmark mainly evaluates the model's ability to reconstruct 3D mechanical parts and assemblies and to identify circuit board connection relationships, among other capabilities. OpenAI did not say whether this internal model is the GPT 6.2 Astra that recently appeared in Codex backend records. The blog post also mentioned that two engineers used GPT 6 Astra to complete the design of a portable AI device in less than a week, and a contract manufacturer produced a small batch of prototype machines in less than a month, but converting the design into a manufacturable product still requires multiple rounds of manual review.
Zhidongxi
OpenAI's new internal model exposed: BenchCAD 2.0 engineering test score of 0.875, higher than GPT-6 Astra
OpenAI disclosed that one of its newer internal models achieved an average score of 0.875 on the BenchCAD 2.0 engineering capability test, higher than GPT-6 Astra's 0.594 under the highest reasoning setting. GPT-6 Astra and Codex have already participated in physical engineering design; two team members completed an initial plan for a desktop device capable of voice interaction with Codex in less than a week, and a contract manufacturer produced a small batch of prototype machines in less than a month. Since February of this year, the OpenAI hardware team's model usage measured in tokens has grown 23-fold, and the company also announced engineering research collaborations with Mazda and Chip Ganassi Racing.
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.
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.
OpenAIFirst-party
OpenAI Partners with Chip Ganassi Racing and Mazda to Explore Engineering Design
OpenAI said it is working with engineers at Chip Ganassi Racing to turn 3D scans into editable CAD models and manufacturing drawings; it is also working with Mazda to explore new vehicle designs through simulation. Engineers will review the model outputs and help identify where the models need improvement.
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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