OpenAI Codex release notes: 0.153.4 shows Astra in the model picker

OpenAI Codex CLI 0.153.4 makes GPT-6-Astra visible in the bundled model picker. Astra also becomes the bundled catalog's default when no model is explicitly configured. Codex CLI is OpenAI's terminal-based coding agent.

OpenAI Codex release notes: Astra in the model picker

Version 0.153.4 was published on September 4. The bundled catalog previously hid Astra. The fix changes its visibility from hide to list; the model's existing priority makes it the default when there is no explicit model selection. This does not mean that all existing model selections are replaced.

Source: OpenAI Codex CLI 0.153.4 release notes.

Source: OpenAI PR #42874: Show Astra in bundled model picker.

Amazon Bedrock gets Astra but keeps Sol as its default

Version 0.153.3, also published on September 4, added GPT-6-Astra to the model picker for Amazon Bedrock, the AWS service for accessing AI models. Support covers Mantle and Runtime global/US routes.

Sol remains the default here. Existing capability restrictions and context limits still apply. The distinction between the bundled catalog's default and Bedrock's default matters when comparing installations.

Source: OpenAI Codex CLI 0.153.3 release notes.

Source: OpenAI PR #42805: Add GPT-6-Astra to Amazon Bedrock catalogs.

Human step: update Codex CLI

For installations using npm, OpenAI gives this command for version 0.153.4:

npm install -g @openai/[email protected]

Source: OpenAI Codex changelog.

The patch also corrects Astra's instructions for asynchronous questions: the model should use them only when the required tool is available in the session. This fixes the model's instructions; it is not a new command you need to type.

Source: OpenAI Codex CLI 0.153.4 release notes.