ChatGPT can now turn your photos into animated GIFs, here's how it works

OpenAI is giving ChatGPT a fun new trick. You can now turn your selfies, pet photos or even text prompts into animated GIFs, tweak individual frames and adjust playback speed. Here's how Images 2.6 works and how you can try it.

In Short

• ChatGPT can now turn uploaded photos and text prompts into animated GIFs
• Users can adjust playback speed and edit individual frames
• Images 2.6 brings faster image generation and reusable reference images

Want to make your GIF game stronger? Well, ChatGPT can now help you do just that. OpenAI has introduced Images 2.6, its latest image-generation model, which brings native GIF creation to ChatGPT. So, instead of settling for a static image, you can now upload a photograph, describe the animation you want and let ChatGPT bring it to life.

The new update also makes image generation faster and gives users more control over their creations. You can adjust animation speed, edit individual frames and share the finished GIF, all without leaving ChatGPT.

Want to give it a try? Here's how the new feature works and what else Images 2.6 brings to the table.

How to create GIFs using ChatGPT

To get started, open ChatGPT, upload a photograph of yourself, your pet or anything else you want to animate, and describe the kind of GIF you have in mind. You can also create an animation using just a text prompt, without uploading a photo.

For instance, OpenAI suggests trying prompts such as: "Animate me peeking over a mountain of Diwali gift boxes. Playful cartoon style, looping GIF."

Once ChatGPT generates the GIF, you can play around with it. The new Images 2.6 model lets you adjust playback speed, ranging from 0.5x to 2x, and edit individual frames.

You can also use the existing editing controls to resize elements or remove unwanted objects. This means you don't have to settle for the first version ChatGPT creates. You can tweak the animation until it looks just right.

What else is new with Images 2.6?

Interestingly, GIF creation is not the only addition. Images 2.6 also introduces faster image generation and the ability to save and tag reference images of people, pets and characters. This means you can reuse a familiar face or character in future creations without uploading the same photograph every time.

OpenAI says people now generate more than 4 billion images every week across ChatGPT and its API, up from over 3 billion reported eight weeks ago when Images 2.5 launched.

For developers, OpenAI has introduced GPT-Image-2.6 Flare and Sunburst through its API. The company claims these models offer 50 per cent faster image generation. Flare can generate images in as little as six seconds at low quality, while Sunburst focuses on higher-quality results and greater consistency across edits at medium or high quality.

Availability and India access

Images 2.6 is available to all ChatGPT users, including those on the free tier, across the web, desktop and mobile apps. The feature is also available in ChatGPT Work and Codex. So, users in India can try the new GIF-making and image-editing capabilities directly through ChatGPT.

For developers, GPT-Image-2.6 Flare and Sunburst are available through OpenAI's API.

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