OpenAI enhances GPT-6.1 sol's context length to 500k tokens

On October 12, 2026, OpenAI announced that the default context length for GPT-6.1 Sol in Codex and Work environments has been increased from 272k to 500k tokens, a rise of approximately 80%. Thibault Sottiaux, known as Tibo, stated that this adjustment significantly reduces the frequency of context compression triggers and allows for more effective handling of tasks requiring long-term retention of detailed information. Tibo emphasized that while OpenAI plans to further increase the limit in the future, the current setting represents an optimal balance between experience and performance for most users. The maximum context length supported by GPT-6.1 Sol is 1M tokens, with manual adjustments allowed. Additionally, OpenAI will no longer charge for extended context usage when deducting from subscriptions.