OpenAI Codex Pauses New Pro Subscriptions Due to High Astra Demand

OpenAI Codex chief Tibo Sottiaux said on X that demand for the Astra model is 'unprecedented,' prompting the company to use all resources and possibly pause new Pro subscriptions. Astra, also known as GPT-6 Astra, launched to select institutions on September 3 and now supports ChatGPT Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, and API, Azure, Bedrock platforms. Early on, it faced computing bottlenecks, with some paid users unable to access it, and CEO Sam Altman called the rollout 'a mess.' Since September 3, users get quota resets for each day of unavailability. After optimizing long-tail usage, quota consumption can drop to a quarter or third. Codex has about 20 million weekly active users, but reports of server overload and faster quota drain persist, as Astra uses more than Sol. The warning targets new Pro subscriptions, not existing ones. The pause aims to prioritize stable experience for current users, benefiting existing Pro and Enterprise subscribers.