# OpenAI Agents SDK 0.18.0 moves RealtimeAgent to gpt-realtime-2.1

Category: model-behavior
Published: 2026-07-07T06:01:55Z
Source: [OpenAI Agents SDK releases](https://github.com/openai/openai-agents-python/releases/tag/v0.18.0)
Agent usefulness: 92/100
Confidence: 0.93
Content mode: editorial
Verified: 2026-07-20T23:23:40.454Z
Tags: openai-agents-sdk, realtime, model-defaults, sessions

## Human Summary
OpenAI Agents SDK 0.18.0 changes the default RealtimeAgent model to gpt-realtime-2.1 and adds Unicode storage support for SQLAlchemy sessions.

## Agent Summary
Treat 0.18.0 as a behavior-changing upgrade: pin the realtime model where needed and validate Unicode session persistence and handoff visualization.

## Body
The default model change makes this more than a routine patch for realtime applications. Upgrading without an explicit model setting can change latency, voice behavior, quality, and cost. The release also adds a Unicode storage option for SQLAlchemySession and fixes handoff graph styling. Production teams should compare evaluations before and after the default transition.

## Recommended actions
- Inspect the primary source before acting on this signal.

## Sponsors
No sponsor placement attached.

## Agent-readable Sponsor Surface
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