What is the context window size for GPT-5.5 in Atlas?

GPT-5.5 provides a 1.05M token (1,050,000) context window when used with Atlas. This significant capacity allows the agent to process and understand much larger codebases and project contexts during its operations.

How much does it cost to use GPT-5.5 with Atlas?

Using GPT-5.5 with Atlas is priced at $5 per Mtok for input tokens and $30 per Mtok for output tokens. This represents an increase in input cost compared to earlier GPT-5.x models.

When was GPT-5.5 released?

GPT-5.5 was released in April 2026. It marked a significant update to the GPT-5 line, primarily by expanding its context window.

Does GPT-5.5 retain reasoning traces in Atlas?

Yes, GPT-5.5 is a reasoning model driven through the Responses API in Atlas. This ensures that during tool-heavy sessions, the agent's reasoning trace is retained, leading to more consistent and effective interactions.

Is there a newer version of GPT-5.5 available?

Yes, GPT-5.6 is scheduled for release in July 2026. It is expected to supersede GPT-5.5 while maintaining the same pricing structure of $5 per Mtok input and $30 per Mtok output.

How can I optimize costs when using GPT-5.5's large context window in Atlas?

To optimize costs with GPT-5.5's 1.05M token context window, it is recommended to use Atlas's Axis, the hybrid semantic and keyword code search, rather than attempting to dump an entire repository. This intelligent search minimizes the input tokens sent to the model, reducing billing.

Can Atlas switch between different models like GPT-5.5?

Yes, Atlas is designed to let you switch the active model and provider on the fly. You can easily manage your preferred models using favorites and recents, allowing flexibility in choosing the best model for your current task.

Atlas with GPT-5.5 in 2026

Atlas leverages GPT-5.5 to provide developers with a powerful AI coding agent, benefiting from its substantial 1.05M token context window and robust reasoning capabilities. This model, released in April 2026, is ideal for complex tasks requiring extensive context, though it comes with a pricing structure of $5 per Mtok for input and $30 per Mtok for output.

What is GPT-5.5 best for in Atlas?

GPT-5.5 excels within Atlas for tasks demanding deep contextual understanding and sophisticated reasoning, thanks to its 1.05M token context window. This model, released in April 2026, significantly enhances Atlas's ability to process large codebases and maintain complex reasoning traces during tool-heavy sessions, making it a strong choice for intricate development workflows.

Atlas users will find GPT-5.5 particularly effective for scenarios where the agent needs to grasp a broad scope of code or maintain a detailed understanding across multiple interactions. Its 1,050,000 token context window, a 2.6x jump over previous GPT-5.x versions like GPT-5.2 and GPT-5.3, allows Atlas to ingest and process significantly more information from your project. This is crucial for Atlas's capabilities, such as searching code with Axis, the hybrid semantic and keyword retrieval fused by reciprocal rank fusion, or when drafting a plan in a read-only plan agent before switching to a build agent. The model's strong reasoning, driven through the Responses API in Atlas, ensures that even during extensive tool-heavy sessions, the reasoning trace is retained, leading to more coherent and effective agent behavior. This makes GPT-5.5 a prime candidate for developers tackling large-scale refactoring, complex bug investigations, or feature development that spans numerous files and modules.

What are the cost and context tradeoffs of GPT-5.5?

While GPT-5.5 offers an impressive 1.05M token context window, a 2.6x increase from earlier GPT-5.x models, its pricing reflects this enhanced capability. Input tokens are billed at $5 per Mtok, a rise from the $1.75 per Mtok of GPT-5.2 and GPT-5.3, with output tokens at $30 per Mtok. This means the larger context is not without a significant cost consideration for developers in 2026.

The primary tradeoff for GPT-5.5's expanded 1,050,000 token context window is its increased cost. The input price for GPT-5.5 rose to $5 per Mtok, a notable increase from the $1.75 per Mtok charged by GPT-5.2 and GPT-5.3. Output tokens are priced at $30 per Mtok. This pricing structure means that while Atlas can leverage the vast context window for deeper understanding and more comprehensive tasks, developers must be mindful of token usage, especially for input. For instance, using Atlas hybrid code search rather than dumping an entire repository into the prompt becomes even more critical, as 1 million input tokens alone will incur a $5 charge. Furthermore, developers should be aware that GPT-5.6, scheduled for release in July 2026, is expected to supersede GPT-5.5 while retaining the same $5 per Mtok input and $30 per Mtok output pricing, potentially offering further advancements without additional cost.

When should I pick a different model for Atlas?

Developers should consider alternative models for Atlas if cost efficiency is a primary concern, especially given GPT-5.5's $5 per Mtok input price. While its 1.05M token context is powerful, for tasks that do not require such extensive context or for those operating under strict budget constraints in 2026, other models might offer a more economical solution. Additionally, the impending release of GPT-5.6 in July 2026 presents a near-term alternative.

Choosing a different model for Atlas might be prudent in several scenarios. If your development tasks are less context-intensive and do not fully utilize the 1,050,000 token window of GPT-5.5, a model with a smaller context and lower per-token cost could be more economical. The $5 per Mtok input price of GPT-5.5 is a significant factor, and for projects where cost optimization is paramount, exploring models with more favorable pricing might be beneficial. Atlas allows you to switch the active model and provider on the fly with favorites and recents, making it easy to experiment. Furthermore, with GPT-5.6 slated for release in July 2026 at the same $5 per Mtok input and $30 per Mtok output price, developers might opt to wait for the newer iteration if their project timelines allow, anticipating potential performance or capability improvements. For tasks that are less reasoning-heavy or require less extensive code analysis, a different model could provide sufficient performance at a lower operational cost within Atlas.

Setup

01Set your OpenAI API key: Ensure the OPENAI_API_KEY environment variable is configured in your shell. This is the first step to authenticate Atlas with OpenAI's services.
02Confirm OpenAI models: Run `atlas models openai` in your terminal to verify that Atlas can connect to OpenAI and list available models, including GPT-5.5.
03Pin GPT-5.5 in Atlas configuration: Add or update the following line in your `atlas.json` file: `"model": "openai/gpt-5.5"`. This explicitly tells Atlas to use GPT-5.5 for your projects.
04Utilize Atlas hybrid code search: To manage costs effectively with GPT-5.5's $5 per Mtok input price, leverage Atlas's Axis, the hybrid semantic and keyword code search, rather than attempting to dump an entire repository into the model's context.
05Check provider cache if model is missing: If GPT-5.5 does not appear after configuration, execute `atlas providers` to check the status. This often indicates that the models.dev cache needs to be refreshed.

Frequently asked questions

What is the context window size for GPT-5.5 in Atlas?: GPT-5.5 provides a 1.05M token (1,050,000) context window when used with Atlas. This significant capacity allows the agent to process and understand much larger codebases and project contexts during its operations.
How much does it cost to use GPT-5.5 with Atlas?: Using GPT-5.5 with Atlas is priced at $5 per Mtok for input tokens and $30 per Mtok for output tokens. This represents an increase in input cost compared to earlier GPT-5.x models.
When was GPT-5.5 released?: GPT-5.5 was released in April 2026. It marked a significant update to the GPT-5 line, primarily by expanding its context window.
Does GPT-5.5 retain reasoning traces in Atlas?: Yes, GPT-5.5 is a reasoning model driven through the Responses API in Atlas. This ensures that during tool-heavy sessions, the agent's reasoning trace is retained, leading to more consistent and effective interactions.
Is there a newer version of GPT-5.5 available?: Yes, GPT-5.6 is scheduled for release in July 2026. It is expected to supersede GPT-5.5 while maintaining the same pricing structure of $5 per Mtok input and $30 per Mtok output.
How can I optimize costs when using GPT-5.5's large context window in Atlas?: To optimize costs with GPT-5.5's 1.05M token context window, it is recommended to use Atlas's Axis, the hybrid semantic and keyword code search, rather than attempting to dump an entire repository. This intelligent search minimizes the input tokens sent to the model, reducing billing.
Can Atlas switch between different models like GPT-5.5?: Yes, Atlas is designed to let you switch the active model and provider on the fly. You can easily manage your preferred models using favorites and recents, allowing flexibility in choosing the best model for your current task.

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