gpt-image-2 can now output real transparent PNGs — one parameter
Kills the background-removal step for cutouts and sprites. Plus per-request data residency, the Assistants API's 4-day sunset, and a seed agent to fork.
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One parameter, a real alpha channel
gpt-image-2 now accepts `background: "transparent"` with `png` or `webp` output, returning a genuine alpha channel instead of a white matte you'd have to key out. That removes the background-removal pass for icons, sprites, product cutouts, and UI assets. It's in preview now.
Pin a request to a region
A project on Global geography can now route individual requests through a regional endpoint via a prefixed domain, so you get EU-or-other data residency per call without standing up a separate regional project. Configure it in the data-controls flow.
The Assistants API goes dark Aug 26
OpenAI's beta Assistants endpoint shuts down August 26 — about four days out. Threads and runs calls will start failing; move to the Responses and Conversations APIs using OpenAI's migration guide before the cutoff.
Build this weekend: a seed that grows
'Seed' is the smallest agent that can rewrite its own code — a tiny harness meant to bootstrap into a self-improving loop. Fork it, hand it a task, and let it edit itself. It hit Hacker News in the last few hours.