{
  "id": 9471135,
  "title": "OpenAI's Astra model went for a drive and no one died",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/24/openais-astra-model-went-for-a-drive-and-no-one-died-9471135",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-09-24T00:54:18.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Register Science",
    "slug": "the-register-science",
    "url": "https://www.theregister.com/ai-and-ml/2026/09/24/openais-astra-model-went-for-a-drive-and-no-one-died/5298715"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "OpenAI's GPT-6 Astra model successfully drove a car through a course in a parking lot, completing the course in 5 minutes and 22 seconds. This marks a significant achievement, as previous commercial AI models struggled to complete the same task. The experiment, part of a project called DrivingBench, involved testing various commercial AI models on their ability to drive a Toyota Corolla around cones. OpenAI's GPT-6 Astra emerged as the only model to successfully navigate the entire course on its second attempt. The researchers spent $7.74 on the project, which included token usage and a driver assistance device. While the cost per mile was high, the fact that a general-purpose model like GPT-6 Astra could drive a car at all demonstrates the potential of large frontier models in the future. However, specialized driving models are still preferred for practical, real-world applications at this stage.",
  "summary": "First LLM to pass test did it in a parking lot at snail's pace, at considerable expense, but it still counts for something",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Register",
        "title": "OpenAI's Astra model went for a drive and no one died",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/24/openais-astra-model-went-for-a-drive-and-no-one-died",
        "published": "2026-09-24T00:54:18.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Tech in Asia",
        "title": "Airbnb expands deal with OpenAI for GPT-6 Astra access",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/24/airbnb-expands-deal-with-openai-for-gpt-6-astra-access",
        "published": "2026-09-24T01:31:48.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}