Anthropic reportedly tests Fable 5.5 as OpenAI reportedly eyes GPT-6.2 Astra

Two of the biggest names in AI may be preparing their next models at the same time. Leaks suggest Anthropic could be testing something called Fable 5.5, while OpenAI may have a model labeled GPT-6.2 Astra in the works.

Neither company has confirmed either model. The evidence so far is a few deleted listings and some odd labels in usage logs, which is roughly how most AI launches get spoiled these days.

The timing is what makes this interesting. Anthropic is in the middle of an IPO process, and its roadshow cannot begin before November 10.

What the leaks actually show

On Anthropic’s side, a catalog entry for “Fable 5.5” surfaced on October 13, 2026. It was gone by the next day.

On OpenAI’s side, the trail runs through Codex, the company’s coding product. A reference to “2-astra” showed up in Codex usage data for some accounts on November 1, 2026.

That string lines up neatly with the naming of OpenAI’s current flagship, GPT-6 Astra.

No independent benchmarks exist for Fable 5.5 or GPT-6.2 Astra. Nobody outside the two companies has published performance numbers, pricing or release dates for either model.

Where both companies stand right now

The rumored models would build on releases that are only months old. Anthropic launched Fable 5 on June 9, 2026, and it was the first model in what the company calls its Mythos class.

OpenAI released GPT-6 Astra on September 3, 2026. The model was priced at $10/$50 per million tokens, and OpenAI pitched it on strength in cybersecurity and professional work.

Meanwhile, Anthropic has been busy with paperwork. The company amended its S-1 filing for a Nasdaq listing on October 26 and again on November 2, 2026.

Those filings put some hard numbers on the table. Anthropic reported third-quarter revenue of $17.0 billion for the July to September 2026 period and said it holds $96 billion in cash.

Why the timing matters

A company preparing to go public has reasons to be careful about what it says and when. Product announcements made in the middle of an IPO process can look like marketing aimed at investors, which is one plausible explanation for Anthropic staying quiet about Fable 5.5.

The quick removal of the catalog entry fits that picture.

What to watch next

The most immediate date on the calendar is November 10, the earliest point at which Anthropic’s roadshow can start.

The second thing to watch is benchmarks. Until independent testers can run Fable 5.5 or GPT-6.2 Astra, there is no way to judge whether either model meaningfully moves past its predecessor.

Pricing will matter too. GPT-6 Astra set a reference point at $10/$50 per million tokens, and any change in a 6.2 release would tell developers whether OpenAI is pushing on cost, capability or both.

Until either one confirms something, Fable 5.5 and GPT-6.2 Astra remain names in a log file and a listing that no longer exists.