ChatGPT's October Update: Virtual Try-On, Multi-Page PDF Scanning and the New GPT-6.1 Sol Model Explained

ChatGPT updates rarely trend on their own, but this week's batch landed on the same day as Google's Gemini 4 announcement and included something very visible: trying clothes on in the chat. Searches for "ChatGPT try on" and "GPT-6.1" rose through 1 and 2 October. Here is what changed, who gets each piece and how to make sense of the GPT-6 model names.

What was released on 1 October

• Virtual try-on. When ChatGPT shows clothing or accessories in a shopping answer, you can now see them on yourself using a photo. It is aimed at the kind of "would this look good on me" question that previously needed a store visit.
• Favourites. A place to save products that come up in shopping conversations, so you can compare later rather than scrolling back through a chat.
• Camera scan to PDF. On iOS, the camera flow can capture several pages and combine them into a single PDF inside ChatGPT, useful for sending a multi-page form or a set of receipts for the model to read.
• GPT-6.1 Sol. A new model in ChatGPT Work and in Codex, OpenAI's coding tool. OpenAI says it improves on GPT-6 Sol for agentic coding, computer use and professional work. Rollout starts with Pro subscribers and expands to Plus, Business, Enterprise and Edu.

Why it is trending

Two reasons. The try-on feature is the sort of thing people test immediately and share, so it spreads on social media. And "6.1" prompted the question many users have each time a number changes: which model am I actually using, and should I care?

Making sense of the GPT-6 names

OpenAI's current line-up has a flagship and tiers below it, each with a name:

• GPT-6 Astra, released 3 September 2026, is the flagship, the most capable and most expensive.
• GPT-6 Sol and GPT-6 Luna, released 22 September 2026, are the tiers below, available in ChatGPT Work and Codex for Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise and Edu users. Sol is the stronger of the two; Luna is lighter and faster.
• GPT-6.1 Sol, released 1 October 2026, is an upgraded Sol. The ".1" signals an improved version of the same tier, not a new flagship.

If you are on the free plan, these names mostly do not affect you yet; the tiered models are appearing first in paid plans and in Codex. If you pay for Plus or Pro, the model picker is where you will see the change.

Which features are available in India

Virtual try-on and Favourites are shopping features and depend on product data, so expect them to work best for retailers that already appear in ChatGPT shopping results in India. The PDF scan flow is iOS-first; there is no Android date yet. GPT-6.1 Sol follows OpenAI's standard rollout, with Pro users first regardless of country.

Should you change how you use ChatGPT?

For most people, no. The shopping features are worth trying if you already ask ChatGPT about products. The model change matters mainly if you use ChatGPT for coding or long professional tasks, where OpenAI claims the biggest gains. As always, check answers that involve money, health or legal questions against an official source.

Frequently asked questions

What is new in ChatGPT in October 2026?

Virtual try-on for clothes and accessories, a Favourites list for products, multi-page scanning to a single PDF on iOS, and the GPT-6.1 Sol model in ChatGPT Work and Codex.

What is GPT-6.1 Sol?

An improved version of GPT-6 Sol, the tier below the GPT-6 Astra flagship, with better agentic coding, computer use and professional work, according to OpenAI.

Do free users get GPT-6.1 Sol?

Not at launch. Rollout starts with Pro, then Plus, Business, Enterprise and Edu.

Does the PDF scan work on Android?

Not yet. OpenAI has described it as an iOS camera flow and has not given an Android date.

How does ChatGPT's try-on work?

You provide a photo and ChatGPT renders the item on it. It is a visualisation, not a fit guarantee, so check size charts before buying.