OpenAI has experienced a notable increase in research activity in 2026, marked by the adoption of coding agents and recursive self-improvement concepts. The internal use of models, including GPT-6 Astra, appears to have contributed to this acceleration.
Details indicate that agentic engineering has become a key focus, with a significant rise in AI spend per researcher starting in late July. This timing coincides with internal access to the GPT-6 Astra model, suggesting its role in boosting research productivity.
Understanding this shift is relevant for engineers managing models and agents, as it highlights the impact of internal model access and agentic techniques on research pace and development strategies.
Source: https://simonwillison.net/2026/Sep/6/research-acceleration-the-view-inside-openai/