OpenAI AI Updates: September 18, 2026

1. OpenAI Packaged Astra Into a Vertical for Law Firms

OpenAI introduced Astra for Law under an OpenAI for Law banner, pairing frontier model access with custom firm workflows, connectors to legal data sources, and controls aimed at confidential client work. The pitch is that general-purpose deployments stall on privilege and data-residency requirements rather than on model quality, so the vertical leads with the legal-grade control layer rather than new capabilities. Source

2. Cooley Built an IPO Workflow on ChatGPT Work

OpenAI published a customer story on Cooley, which built a tool called GO Public on ChatGPT Work to move issue-spotting earlier in the IPO process. The stated goal is to surface problems during preparation rather than in later review passes, leaving lawyer time for judgment calls instead of first-pass document review. Source