Google Cloud begins offering OpenAI's GPT-6 models in private preview

Compiled from reports by Google Cloud, 9to5Google and The Next Web. See the original articles linked below.

Google Cloud announced on October 21, 2026 that it is adding OpenAI models to its Model Garden, the catalogue through which it offers AI models to business customers. The announcement was published on the Google Cloud blog by Michael Gerstenhaber, the company's vice president of product management for Gemini.

The models

According to Google Cloud, three models are involved. GPT-6 Astra is described as meant for demanding coding, computer use, professional and scientific work. GPT-6.1 Sol is presented as coming close to Astra in intelligence at lower cost. GPT-6 Luna is described as a fast, cost-efficient option for everyday work at scale.

Google Cloud said they are in private preview for select enterprise customers, with more models to follow. The Next Web reported that the three models are rolling out in that preview and that OpenAI plans general availability in the coming weeks. 9to5Google wrote that the GPT models are expected in Google Cloud in the coming weeks, and said neither company had named which models would arrive; its author speculated that Astra and Sol could be among them. The Google Cloud post, by contrast, lists the three models by name.

Purchasing and data

Google Cloud said customers buy the OpenAI models through Google Cloud Marketplace, so usage appears on a single invoice, counts toward existing cloud commitments and qualifies for its Flexible Savings Plans. 9to5Google and The Next Web gave similar accounts of purchasing through the Marketplace.

On data handling, Google Cloud stated that customer data stays inside the customer's data perimeter and is not used to train foundation models. It listed Zero Data Retention options and Confidential Compute as coming soon, and said the models run on dedicated infrastructure behind isolated gateways with identity-based access, VPC Service Controls and unified audit logging. The company quoted Yashodha Bhavnani, Box's vice president of AI products, as saying the arrangement lets Box offer OpenAI's frontier models alongside Google Cloud's security and compliance features.

Codex, Antigravity and competition

Google Cloud said customers can build with the models through APIs and connect local Codex CLI and Desktop workflows to the Gemini platform for inference. It added that OpenAI models will come to Gemini for business and Google Antigravity. 9to5Google reported that Antigravity's timing was described as "soon" and that the Gemini Agent will also receive the models. It quoted Google Cloud chief executive Thomas Kurian as saying the company is focused on giving customers a broad selection of models, including those from OpenAI.

Google Cloud described itself as the only hyperscale cloud offering the three leading closed-source model families: Gemini, Claude and GPT. The Next Web reported that this places OpenAI's models on all three of the largest US cloud providers, noting that Amazon Web Services began hosting them in April and that Microsoft remains OpenAI's primary cloud partner.

The Next Web also cited an analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy, who said Gemini now has to win customers with OpenAI sitting next to it. Citing CNBC, the outlet reported that Google Cloud's revenue growth accelerated to about 82% in the second quarter, against 37% for Amazon and 42% for Microsoft, and that all three companies report results next week.

Sources

This article was compiled with AI assistance from the reports listed above and reviewed by GMA before publishing.