OpenAI has just launched its highly anticipated GPT Image 1 model through their API, bringing their powerful image generation capabilities to developers worldwide. The same technology that created over 700 million images in its first week on ChatGPT is now available for integration into third-party applications and platforms.
GPT Image 1: OpenAI’s Latest API Innovation
On April 24, 2025, OpenAI announced the release of GPT Image 1 for their API. This model delivers the same high-quality, professional-grade image generation that became wildly popular when introduced to ChatGPT last month, with over 130 million users creating hundreds of millions of images in just the first week.
The API is accessible to developers on any tier of OpenAI’s platform, though ID verification is required. Several major companies including Adobe, Airtable, Figma, and Gamma have already integrated the technology into their products.
Pricing Structure and Quality Options
OpenAI has implemented a token-based pricing model for GPT Image 1:
- $5 per million tokens of text input
- $10 per million tokens of image input
- $40 per million tokens of output
This translates to approximately:
- 2 cents per low-quality square image
- 7 cents per medium-quality square image
- 19 cents per high-quality square image
The API supports three aspect ratios—square, portrait, and landscape—and three quality levels: low, medium, and high. Images are delivered in JPEG or WEBP format with adjustable compression, and transparency is supported.
The Powerful Impainting Feature
One of GPT Image 1’s most impressive capabilities is image editing through a process called impainting. This allows users to upload an existing image along with a mask indicating which areas should be replaced or modified. The API will then regenerate only those masked sections while preserving the rest of the image.
This feature streamlines the editing process by eliminating the need to regenerate an entire image when only specific elements need adjustment. For developers, this opens up powerful workflows for image refinement and targeted modifications.
Implementation and Experimentation
Developers can access the playground environment at https://platform.openai.com/playground/images to experiment with the API and view examples. The implementation is straightforward using the OpenAI SDK—simply specify the GPT Image model and provide your prompt.
It’s worth noting that even playground usage incurs standard API costs, so developers should be mindful of their token usage during testing. Complex prompts may take up to two minutes to process.
Current Limitations to Consider
While GPT Image 1 represents a significant advancement, OpenAI acknowledges some limitations:
- Text rendering has improved from previous models but can still struggle with precise placement and clarity
- Visual consistency can be challenging to maintain for recurring characters or brand elements across multiple generations
- Complex prompts may require longer processing times (up to 2 minutes)
Token consumption varies significantly based on quality and aspect ratio. A low-quality square image uses approximately 272 tokens, while a high-quality portrait image can require up to 6,240 tokens.
What This Means for Developers
The release of GPT Image 1 through API access democratizes professional-grade AI image generation. Developers can now build sophisticated image-creating applications without the extensive resources typically required for training and deploying such models. The moderation parameters also add flexibility, allowing for standard filtering or less restrictive options depending on the use case.
With its robust feature set and relatively accessible pricing, GPT Image 1 represents a significant opportunity for developers to enhance their applications with cutting-edge generative AI capabilities. Whether you’re building creative tools, content platforms, or business applications, this API provides a powerful new resource for image generation and editing directly within your own products.