OpenAI says GPT-6.1 Sol has improved at translating COBOL into modern programming languages. Its tests reached 98% behaviour preservation accuracy at higher reasoning effort, but experts say safe replacement of entire systems remains unproven.
OpenAI tested its AI models on moving COBOL code into languages including Java, Python and Rust while preserving the software’s behaviour. GPT-6.1 Sol scored 87% at low reasoning effort and 98% at higher effort in the company’s evaluations.
COBOL remains embedded in banking and government systems, where replacing old software risks disrupting essential services. Anthropic has also pitched Claude Code for COBOL migration, but provided no performance benchmarks for that work.
For companies modernising legacy software, translating code addresses only part of the task: data, integrations and existing workflows also matter. Experts recommend robust testing and human verification, and caution that OpenAI’s evaluations do not establish that AI can safely replace complex legacy systems.
Safe migration of complete business systems remains unproven, so these results are not enough to justify replacing critical software.
Teams still need expertise in legacy code and integrations because translation alone does not resolve the complexity of modernisation.
Testing and human verification remain essential work that companies must account for when assessing potential AI savings.
Written automatically by the Made in 10 Newsroom from the source above.
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