ChatGPT can now turn your photos and ideas into animated GIFs

ChatGPT can now make animated GIFs. OpenAI added the feature on November 4 as part of an update called Images 2.6. You can start with a photo, a sketch or a written description, then tell ChatGPT how things should move. The timing is no accident, since the launch came ahead of Diwali.

What it does

A GIF is a short looping clip, the kind people send in messaging apps. With Images 2.6, you describe a scene or upload an image and say what should move. Examples include a blink, a wave or a flickering light. You can also set the playback speed.

You do not have to start over to fix something. Follow-up prompts let you change the movement or the look of the result. The loops can be seamless, so they replay smoothly on messaging apps and social media.

Other changes in the update

• OpenAI says images are generated 50% faster than before.
• It aims to keep faces, clothing and product looks consistent across edits.
• You can save named reference images and call them up later with @mentions.

The saved references mean you no longer need to upload the same photo again and again. That helps if you keep making images of the same person, product or style.

Who it is for

The pitch is everyday users and small businesses. Think festive greetings, reaction GIFs, product demonstrations, animated storyboards and branded social posts, all without design or animation software.

Developers get new tools too. Two new models, GPT-Image-2.6 Flare and Sunburst, are aimed at faster generation and higher-quality output. The developer tools can also make GIFs with two to 16 frames and adjustable timing for each frame. They add SVG export and image markup as well.

Limits and open questions

You cannot edit a GIF file that you upload to ChatGPT. The feature works from prompts and images instead. The rollout is also gradual, so you may not see it yet.

OpenAI says it applies moderation to GIF creation, because a problem can show up across several frames instead of in one image. The material does not say what the feature costs, which plans include it, or when everyone will get access.

What happens next

Availability will spread over time. If the option has not appeared in your account, check back later. If it has, a simple greeting or product loop is an easy way to test what it can do.