GoKawiilElyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET
Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.
AI labs are shipping new models nonstop. Besides being better and faster than their predecessors, every new model isn't guaranteed to be a major step change, despite how the company's PR may wax poetic about them. Model strengths really emerge in context: Where are competitor models lacking or excelling? Which models have outstanding specialties, and which are just catching up to industry standards?
Also: How we test AI at ZDNET
Our Model Release Tracker helps you make sense of where models stand relative to each other, and whether they're worth a deeper look. While we don't test every model or model update on this list, we'll always include the key elements you need to know, along with our hands-on expert test, where applicable. We also include an Expert Score for certain models. Curious about how we test AI? Check out this breakdown of our process.
Here are the biggest model releases of 2026 so far and what to know about them. We'll update this list whenever a notable new model arrives.
GPT-Live-1
OpenAI | July 8, 2026
What it does: OpenAI said the new model, which is accompanied by a light version (GPT-Live-1 mini), should make talking to ChatGPT in Voice Mode "more like talking with another person." That means you should be able to seamlessly interrupt the assistant with questions, pause mid-sentence, and ask ChatGPT to respond more slowly if you need.
OpenAI added that ChatGPT Voice now has access to frontier model intelligence, but didn't offer more details on what that means. Everyone can access GPT-Live-1 and GPT-Live-1 mini in ChatGPT for Android, iOS, and in the browser in any plan.
... continue reading