Hands-on with ChatGPT's powerful new image engine

[Skip to main content](https://www.axios.com/2026/04/22/chatgpt-hands-on-powerful-image-engine#main-content) * [](https://www.axios.com/) * [Newsletters](https://www.axios.com/newsletters) * Axios LocalShow * [Axios Pro](https://www.axios.com/pro/all-deals) * [Axios Live](https://www.axios.com/events) * [The Axios Show](https://www.axios.com/the-axios-show) Login [Axios](https://www.axios.com/) [](https://www.axios.com/results) All topics [Axios ](https://www.axios.com/) Search 6 hours ago - [Technology](https://www.axios.com/technology) # Hands-on with ChatGPT's powerful new image engine  * [Ina Fried](https://www.axios.com/authors/ina) * email (opens in new window) * sms (opens in new window) * facebook (opens in new window) twitter (opens in new window) linkedin (opens in new window) bluesky (opens in new window) [Add Axios on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=axios.com) Add Axios as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. [Add Axios on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=axios.com)  An AI-generated image promoting a fictional Mike Allen look-alike contest and an infographic making the case against candy corn. Images: Ina Fried via ChatGPT ChatGPT's new image engine [promises](https://www.axios.com/2026/04/21/chatgpt-images-major-update) a host of improvements including better typography, access to the web and an ability to reason. So Axios put it to the test. **Why it matters:** Past image engines have proved initially popular with consumers, but had enough flaws to prevent broader use in business. **Catch up quick:** ChatGPT Images 2.0 is now live in the app and supports a wide range of aspect ratios and comes in both standard and a "thinking" mode with built-in reasoning. * All users will have access to the standard version of the image model, while the thinking mode is reserved for paid subscribers. **Zoom in:** In the day that I have had access, I gave the new model a wide range of tasks. * A friend asked me to make a memorial image of her recently deceased cat along with two favorite toys. It * It elegantly took two photos from my wedding and made it appear as if they were in an old-style photo album with photo corners. * My colleagues suggested a poster for a fictional event. I decided to create a Mike Allen look-alike contest in Washington Square Park this Sunday. (Of course, it's only fictional if no one shows up.) **It also made a handy infographic** making "the case against candy corn" which I used unsuccessfully to convince two colleagues that the treat, which is neither candy nor corn, is also not good. * I used it to "clean up" my bedroom, which was filled with gadgets, Legos and clothes. I uploaded a picture of the room with all my mess and it showed what it would look like without my stuff everywhere. I was shocked by how much space we could have, but my partner saw it as a tease and said to let him know when ChatGPT could actually clean the room. * It also excelled at turning pictures of me playing softball and my 13-year-old playing soccer into trading cards complete with name, position and team logo, extracted from our uniforms. **Yes, but:** When I asked it to create a faux newspaper — the "Smart Brevity Times" based on the latest Axios headlines — it first used old articles rather than pulling from today's news. * A second try got the latest stories, but looked more like a mock-up than a finished newspaper. * And some of its creations were less than elegant. A mahjong cheat sheet I asked for was accurate but lacked polish. * Also, it pays to plan ahead. All that added reasoning means that images can take quite a while to produce. * email (opens in new window) * sms (opens in new window) * facebook (opens in new window) twitter (opens in new window) linkedin (opens in new window) bluesky (opens in new window) [Add Axios on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=axios.com) ##### What to read next *  *  *  *  *  Smarter, faster on what matters. [Explore Axios Newsletters](https://www.axios.com/newsletters) * [About Axios](https://www.axios.com/about) * [Advertise with us](https://www.axios.com/advertise) * [Careers](https://www.axios.com/careers) * [Contact us](https://www.axios.com/contact) * [Newsletters](https://www.axios.com/newsletters) * [Axios Live](https://www.axios.com/events) * [Axios HQ](https://www.axioshq.com/?utm_source=axios&utm_medium=site&utm_campaign=axioshq) * [Privacy policy](https://www.axios.com/legal) * [Terms of use](https://www.axios.com/legal/terms-of-use) [Axios Homepage](https://www.axios.com/) Axios Media Inc., 2026