TechSkimm

OpenAI touts GPT-6 Astra test scores, but caveats remain

OpenAI says its GPT-6 Astra model scored 98.6% on the tough ARC-AGI-3 test, far ahead of previous models. The catch: Astra was tested using a different setup than older models, so the results aren’t apples-to-apples. Astra also improved on other benchmarks and helped researchers push boundaries in math, but OpenAI hasn’t detailed exactly how much credit belongs to the AI versus human collaborators. The leap in scores, though, is dramatic.

Why it mattersIf the numbers hold up, Astra could mark a big step forward for AI handling tricky, unfamiliar tasks, not just repeating data. But without consistent testing rules and more detail about the math breakthroughs, it's too soon to call this artificial general intelligence.

Sources covering this

The New StackGPT-6 Astra’s score of 98.6% looked like AGI. Then researchers read the fine print.7:05 PM

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