Written By Shubham Arora
Published By: Shubham Arora | Published: Dec 17, 2025, 01:22 PM (IST)
OpenAI has pushed a new update for its image-generation system inside ChatGPT, giving it better speed, improved editing controls, and a cleaner interface. The new “ChatGPT Images” experience is now rolling out to users, and OpenAI claims it works about four times faster than the earlier model. The update arrives just days after the release of ChatGPT 5.2, suggesting that the upgraded image tool is built on top of the newer version. Also Read: 7 ChatGPT Myths People Still Believe
The first thing users will notice is a separate Images section in the sidebar, making it easier to explore styles, filters, and previously created images. OpenAI has also worked on improving how the tool understands prompts, so the final output matches what users describe more accurately. Also Read: OpenAI May Roll Out ChatGPT Adult Mode In 2026: Timeline, Features And Safety Concerns
The new version supports a bunch of editing features that weren’t as smooth earlier. You can combine multiple images, add new elements to an existing picture, or blend different ideas together. There are preset prompts as well, which can be tweaked to create something more customised.
These improvements appear to be OpenAI’s attempt to respond to Google’s growing traction with Nano Banana Pro, which has been getting attention for its quick generation speed and wide range of creative options.
ChatGPT Images is rolling out on both the web and mobile apps. To try it out:
The Images tab on the left also shows different categories and your image creation history. Even though the interface doesn’t explicitly mention “ChatGPT Images”, the updated system seems to be powering image generation for all users – including free accounts.
Google recently revealed that over 500 billion images have been created using Nano Banana and its Pro version. With this update, OpenAI is clearly trying to match that momentum with faster output and a more flexible editing setup.