OpenAI’s GPT-6 Astra model deciphered a 108-year-old German radio transmission from World War I. The message was previously featured on a list of 50 famous unsolved ciphers. Sent on November 27, 1918, the transmission utilized a complex ADFGVX cipher. It detailed the movement of British and Allied naval squadrons within the Black Sea.
Astra identified the keyword TRUPPENVERSCHIEBUNG from a historical manuscript on German military ciphers. The model cross-referenced the decoded message against historical records to verify accuracy. It confirmed ship movements using the original logbooks of HMS Canterbury. The vessel arrived at Sevastopol on November 24, 1918. This achievement demonstrates the model's capabilities in autonomous research, pattern recognition, and self-verification.