OpenAI
Restricting outputs to discrete choices allows GPT-6 Luna to achieve sub-100-millisecond latency, enabling real-time robotics and application controls without the lag of broad reasoning models.
AI-assisted summary of Introducing the Decisions API — original source. Check the original for full context.
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Key ideas
- OpenAI launched the Decisions API powered by GPT-6 Luna, offering under 100 ms server-side latency by constraining model outputs to a developer-defined question and choice set. (0:00)
- By narrowing output scopes down to discrete options, the API achieves nearly 10x faster execution than broader alternatives while retaining image reasoning, multilingual text support, and safety guardrails. (0:00)
- The API supports multi-modal use cases ranging from sub-100 ms text routing and 2D driving game steering to running parallel expression engines alongside GPT-Live-1 voice streams. (1:17)
- In a robotics demo with Hugging Face's Microduck prototype 'Lavender', the Decisions API processed real-time camera frames to direct physical head tracking across concrete, conceptual, and subjective queries. (3:05)
Detailed notes
## Background Published by OpenAI on YouTube on October 6, 2026, this announcement video introduces the Decisions API. The official description explains that the API offers a fast way to turn text and image inputs into programmatic actions by restricting choices, powered by GPT-6 Luna alongside GPT-Live-1 and a Microduck robot.
## TL;DR Hosts Romain and Charlie showcase the new Decisions API, a low-latency model powered by GPT-6 Luna designed to quickly pick from a constrained set of answers. They demonstrate text routing with sub-100 millisecond latency for sales leads, visual lane-steering in a fast-paced 2D driving game, and dynamic facial expression selection in live voice conversations. Finally, they highlight physical robotics by using the API with 'Lavender,' a Microduck robot that interprets camera frames to track objects ranging from concrete items to abstract and subjective prompts.
## Atmosphere & style The presentation is crisp, upbeat, and distinctly developer-focused, framed around live real-time demonstrations rather than theoretical slides. Romain and Charlie share an enthusiastic, collaborative chemistry, trading off demos that transition smoothly from software routing to gaming and physical robotics. The pacing feels energetic and responsive, culminating in a charming and playful robotics test where Lavender chirps in affirmation.
## Bulletin - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB6oCmrIj-Y&t=0s) OpenAI launched the Decisions API powered by GPT-6 Luna, offering under 100 ms server-side latency by constraining model outputs to a developer-defined question and choice set. - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB6oCmrIj-Y&t=0s) By narrowing output scopes down to discrete options, the API achieves nearly 10x faster execution than broader alternatives while retaining image reasoning, multilingual text support, and safety guardrails. - [01:17](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB6oCmrIj-Y&t=77s) The API supports multi-modal use cases ranging from sub-100 ms text routing and 2D driving game steering to running parallel expression engines alongside GPT-Live-1 voice streams. - [03:05](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB6oCmrIj-Y&t=185s) In a robotics demo with Hugging Face's Microduck prototype 'Lavender', the Decisions API processed real-time camera frames to direct physical head tracking across concrete, conceptual, and subjective queries.
## Key takeaways - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB6oCmrIj-Y&t=0s) The Decisions API addresses the need for applications to execute intelligent decisions in a fraction of a second. - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB6oCmrIj-Y&t=0s) Under the hood, the API is powered by GPT-6 Luna, using constrained output sets to achieve under 100 ms server-side latency. - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB6oCmrIj-Y&t=0s) Developers define an input (text or image), a specific question, and a fixed set of answers to drive downstream application logic. - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB6oCmrIj-Y&t=0s) Restricting outputs allows the model to run almost 10x faster than full models without sacrificing image understanding, multilingual support, or safety guardrails. - [00:42](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB6oCmrIj-Y&t=42s) Text use cases include form-field extraction, support ticket categorization, and real-time inbound sales lead routing. - [01:17](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB6oCmrIj-Y&t=77s) Visual reasoning enables fast digital actions, demonstrated through real-time obstacle avoidance and lane steering in a fast-paced 2D driving game. - [01:17](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB6oCmrIj-Y&t=77s) The API is suitable for lightweight computer-use tasks, though complex multi-step browser workflows are better served by Astra capabilities. - [02:05](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB6oCmrIj-Y&t=125s) When paired with GPT-Live-1 audio streams, the Decisions API can independently select real-time facial expressions from a visual library to match conversational context. - [03:05](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB6oCmrIj-Y&t=185s) The API can power physical robotics control loops, demonstrated on Hugging Face's upcoming programmable Microduck robot named Lavender. - [03:05](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB6oCmrIj-Y&t=185s) The vision loop successfully resolved concrete commands, such as tracking an apple across incoming camera frames. - [03:05](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB6oCmrIj-Y&t=185s) Lavender demonstrated conceptual reasoning by identifying an apple when asked to track 'the fruit'. - [03:05](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB6oCmrIj-Y&t=185s) The system resolved subjective prompts without stalling, prioritizing a video game controller when asked what was more fun to play with.
## Detailed walkthrough ### [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB6oCmrIj-Y&t=0s) Introducing the Decisions API and Text Classification
Romain opens by addressing a common challenge in software development: applications often need to make smart decisions "really, really fast," whether that means routing an incoming request, classifying visual content, or guiding an agent's next action. To solve this, OpenAI is introducing the Decisions API. Powered under the hood by GPT-6 Luna, the API provides responses in a fraction of a second, creating a near-instant interaction loop. The core mechanism is kept intentionally straightforward: developers provide an input (text or image), define a question alongside a constrained set of possible answers, and then execute downstream logic based on the returned choice. By scoping the model down to a limited set of choices, it operates nearly 10 times faster than broader alternatives while retaining critical capabilities such as robust image understanding, multilingual support, and built-in safety protections.
```mermaid flowchart LR accTitle: Decisions API Input-Output Workflow accDescr: A diagram illustrating how the Decisions API processes text or image inputs to make rapid choices. subgraph Inputs["Developer Setup"] In["Text or Image Input"] Q["Target Question"] Opts["Fixed Set of Choices"] end subgraph Processing["Low-Latency Engine"] Engine["Decisions API<br>(GPT-6 Luna)"] end subgraph Action["App Execution"] Out["Selected Choice"] Logic["Trigger App Action"] end In --> Engine Q --> Engine Opts --> Engine Engine --> Out Out --> Logic ```
Charlie demonstrates this workflow using unstructured text. While basic applications might use the API simply to extract form fields from raw paragraphs, Charlie highlights more dynamic use cases such as categorizing incoming support tickets or sorting loose inbound sales requests to route them to the appropriate team. During the live demo, freeform user inputs are classified into sales lead categories with zero perceptible delay. Romain emphasizes that the video is playing in real time—the API achieved a server-side response latency of under 100 milliseconds.
- **Engine:** Powered by GPT-6 Luna. - **Performance:** Almost 10x faster execution due to a constrained output set; under 100 ms server-side latency. - **Capabilities preserved:** Multilingual text support, image reasoning, and safety guardrails. - **Example text use cases:** Extracting form fields from paragraphs, support ticket triage, and inbound sales lead routing.
---
[01:17](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB6oCmrIj-Y&t=77s) Visual Decisions and Fast-Paced Gameplay
Romain moves to what he finds even more compelling: driving fast physical or digital actions from image inputs via visual understanding. To illustrate the latency benefits, Charlie presents a 2D driving game where the Decisions API receives continuous frames showing the road and oncoming obstacles. For each incoming visual frame, the API decides whether the car should remain in its lane or maneuver left or right. Even when Charlie ramps up the game speed, the model reliably steers the vehicle into the safe lane in a fraction of the time a full reasoning model would require.
Romain points out that this quick turn-around makes the Decisions API well-suited for lightweight computer-use tasks, such as capturing screen frames and dispatching immediate keyboard or mouse actions. At the same time, he clarifies the boundaries of the API: developers pursuing deeply complex, multi-step browser manipulation or desktop workflows will still want to rely on more advanced tooling like Astra capabilities.
---
[02:05](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB6oCmrIj-Y&t=125s) Reactive Expressions in Voice Conversations
Charlie explores combining the Decisions API with speech, showing how it enhances live conversations by adding real-time visual responsiveness. In his setup, GPT-Live-1 manages the speech-to-speech audio stream, while the Decisions API runs in parallel to choose visual facial expressions for an animated character based on what the user says.
Charlie tests the animated avatar with casual banter: - Charlie: *"Hey, how's it going?"* - Avatar: *"Pretty good. I'm hanging in there, keeping it calm and cozy. How are you doing?"* - Charlie: *"It has been a crazy week."* - Avatar: *"Oh, wow. That sounds exhausting. Want to talk about what's been going on?"* - Charlie: *"Oh, no. It's been crazy in a good way. We're launching the Decisions API today and a ton of people are so excited to have it."* - Avatar: *"That's so exciting. I know a lot of developers have been looking forward to building with it."*
Throughout the exchange, the Decisions API continuously picks context-appropriate expressions from a discrete visual library, ensuring the character's emotional reactions unfold alongside the spoken dialogue.
---
[03:05](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB6oCmrIj-Y&t=185s) Robotics Control: Guiding "Lavender" the Microduck
Romain turns to physical robotics, showing off a prototype unit of the upcoming Microduck programmable robot provided by Hugging Face. The unit, named "Lavender," combines GPT-Live-1 for spoken interaction with the Decisions API to control head movements based on real-time visual frames captured by its onboard camera. At regular intervals, the Decisions API processes frames and selects directional steering commands to track the target object.
```mermaid flowchart TD accTitle: Lavender Robot Vision-to-Action Loop accDescr: Diagram tracking how the Microduck robot captures visual frames and directs its head using the Decisions API. Cam["Robot Camera Frames"] --> API["Decisions API<br>(Visual Reasoning)"] Prompt["Voice Prompt / Query"] --> API API --> HeadCmd["Head Movement Command<br>(Left / Center / Right)"] HeadCmd --> Motor["Microduck Head Tracking"] ```
Romain demonstrates the tracking ability through three escalating tests: 1. **Concrete command:** Romain commands, *"Lavender, follow the apple."* The robot evaluates its visual feed, identifies the apple, and tracks it smoothly. 2. **Abstract/conceptual command:** Charlie tests the model's semantic reasoning by asking, *"Lavender, can you follow the fruit?"* Lavender successfully resolves the concept back to the physical apple. 3. **Subjective judgment:** Charlie introduces a second object—a video game controller—and asks, *"Lavender, what's more fun to play with?"* Rather than stalling on ambiguity, the Decisions API selects the gamepad. Even when Charlie physically swaps the positions of the fruit and the gamepad or moves the controller to the left, Lavender's head tracks the controller.
Wrapping up, Romain and Charlie reiterate that these demos showcase the Decisions API across text, vision, keyboard, and voice modalities. They express excitement for how developers will utilize this low-latency decision loop in their own applications. In a closing moment, Romain asks, *"Lavender, are you excited about the Decisions API?"*, and the robot replies with an enthusiastic chirp.
## Notable quotes > [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB6oCmrIj-Y&t=0s) really, really fast — Romain
> [02:05](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB6oCmrIj-Y&t=125s) Hey, how's it going? — Charlie
> [02:05](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB6oCmrIj-Y&t=125s) Pretty good. I'm hanging in there, keeping it calm and cozy. How are you doing? — Avatar
> [02:05](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB6oCmrIj-Y&t=125s) It has been a crazy week. — Charlie
> [02:05](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB6oCmrIj-Y&t=125s) Oh, wow. That sounds exhausting. Want to talk about what's been going on? — Avatar
> [02:05](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB6oCmrIj-Y&t=125s) Oh, no. It's been crazy in a good way. We're launching the Decisions API today and a ton of people are so excited to have it. — Charlie
> [02:05](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB6oCmrIj-Y&t=125s) That's so exciting. I know a lot of developers have been looking forward to building with it. — Avatar
> [03:05](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB6oCmrIj-Y&t=185s) Lavender, follow the apple. — Romain
> [03:05](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB6oCmrIj-Y&t=185s) Lavender, can you follow the fruit? — Charlie
> [03:05](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB6oCmrIj-Y&t=185s) Lavender, what's more fun to play with? — Charlie
> [03:05](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB6oCmrIj-Y&t=185s) Lavender, are you excited about the Decisions API? — Romain
## Mentioned OpenAI, Decisions API, GPT-6 Luna, GPT-Live-1, Astra, Microduck, Hugging Face, Lavender, Romain, Charlie
## Video description Introducing the Decisions API: a fast way to turn text and images into actions in your app. Give the model an input, define a question and the possible answers, and use its choice to decide what happens next.
Powered by GPT-6 Luna, the Decisions API focuses on a small set of choices to make interactions feel responsive. See how it works alongside GPT-Live-1 and a Microduck to bring voice, visual understanding, and quick decisions together.
Chapters: 00:00 Introducing the Decisions API 00:42 Classifying text and routing sales leads 01:17 Making decisions from images 02:05 Adding expression to voice conversations 03:05 Guiding Lavender the robot 05:05 What will you build?
[Source](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB6oCmrIj-Y)