---
title: "GPT-6 Astra Taught to Drive a Car — AI Succeeded, but Cost 500 Times More Than Fuel"
description: "OpenAI's GPT-6 Astra successfully drove a car for the first time in a testing project, but running the AI via API proved to be over 500 times more expensive than traditional fuel."
date: 2026-09-25T15:48:07.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/gpt-6-astra-taught-to-drive-a-car
tags: [artificial-intelligence, openai, gpt-6-astra, autonomous-driving, drivingbench]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# GPT-6 Astra Taught to Drive a Car — AI Succeeded, but Cost 500 Times More Than Fuel

![OpenAI GPT-6 Astra artificial intelligence driving a car on a test track](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/25/gpt-6-astra-nauchili-upravlyat-avtomobilem/gpt-6-astra-nauchili-upravlyat-avtomobilem-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- OpenAI GPT-6 Astra is the first AI model to complete a test driving course.
- The car traveled 134.7 meters at 1.5 km/h, taking over 5 minutes.
- Running the AI cost $57.46 per kilometer, 500 times more expensive than fuel.

OpenAI's large language model GPT-6 Astra has become the first of its kind to successfully drive a car as part of the DrivingBench testing project. A full-fledged autopilot system is still a long way off: the car moved extremely slowly, and API access costs were high even with token caching enabled.

### Experiment Course and Testing Results

During the tests, OpenAI GPT-5.6 Sol, SpaceXAI Grok 4.6, and Anthropic Claude Fable 5.1 failed to complete the test track entirely. Only OpenAI GPT-6 Astra managed to guide a Toyota Corolla along a 134.7-meter route on its second attempt, taking 5 minutes and 22 seconds to navigate a parking lot among cones.

### Process Economics and Cost Comparison

The car covered the track at about 1.5 km/h, consuming 6.6 million tokens and spending $7.74 on API calls. Including hardware costs, the total operational expense reached $57.46 per kilometer. At standard fuel prices, using the AI model for driving turns out to be over 500 times more expensive than regular gas.

### AI Perception Features and Expert Conclusions

Researchers admitted they deliberately tricked the models into believing the car was in a simulation, as real-world images caused panic in the neural networks. Experts believe long-term success lies in distilling powerful universal models into compact specialized versions.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [GPT-6 Astra научили управлять автомобилем — ИИ справился, но обошёлся в 500 раз дороже топлива window-new](https://3dnews.ru/1148959/gpt6-astra-nauchili-upravlyat-avtomobilem-ii-spravilsya-no-oboshyolsya-v-500-raz-doroge-topliva) - Основной источник информации об эксперименте DrivingBench.
- [OpenAI выпустила подробный гайд по работе с GPT-6 Astra](https://thecode.media/openai-vypustila-podrobnyj-gajd-po-rabote-s-gpt-6-astra/) - Контекстные данные о возможностях модели.
- [OpenAI представила GPT-6 Astra: модель установила рекорды в ряде тестов](https://zn.ua/TECHNOLOGIES/openai-predstavila-gpt-6-astra-model-ustanovila-rekordy-v-rjade-testov.html) - Информация о релизе GPT-6 Astra.
- [OpenAI выпустила GPT-6 Astra: обзор новой флагманской модели](https://incrypted.com/obzor-gpt-6-astra-ot-openai/) - Обзор архитектурных особенностей модели.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: Which AI model drove the car?
**A:** OpenAI GPT-6 Astra successfully completed the driving test.

### Q: How much more expensive was the AI compared to fuel?
**A:** Using the AI model was more than 500 times more expensive than regular fuel.