OpenAI aurora model codenames briefly surface in API
Three aurora codenames appeared in OpenAI's developer API, and Lumina Bench said they were being tested as image generation models.
Three model names — aurora-red-alpha, aurora-green-alpha and aurora-blue-alpha — briefly appeared in OpenAI's developer API before being removed, according to aitimes.com. OpenAI has not confirmed the existence or identity of the models.
The names were surfaced through a notification in the Dev Mode Discord community, pointing to an accidental rollout. The AI model tracking account Lumina Bench said the models were being tested as image generation models.
Lumina Bench described aurora-red-alpha as faster but lower quality and aurora-green-alpha as slower but higher quality. It said aurora-blue-alpha had not yet been tested.
Some testers shared images said to show clean and detailed output, but there is not enough material to judge the differences between the models.
About an hour after the API names appeared, three models named Aspen, Cypress and Maple were reported on Design Arena. No direct link between those entries and the aurora models has been confirmed.
Earlier image-model releases
OpenAI previously offered GPT-Image-2.5 in the API as two models: GPT-Image-2.5 Flare, focused on fast generation, and GPT-Image-2.5 Sunburst, which takes longer for more precise results. Before GPT-Image-2.5 launched, names thought to be image generation models were found on a blind-testing platform.
Quick answers
What are aurora-red-alpha and aurora-green-alpha?
They are model names that briefly appeared in OpenAI's developer API before being removed. OpenAI has not confirmed what they are.
How do the aurora models differ?
Lumina Bench said aurora-red-alpha is faster but lower quality and aurora-green-alpha is slower but higher quality. It said aurora-blue-alpha had not been tested.