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OpenAI launches GPT-5.6 family with pricing from $1 input per million tokens

TechCrunch AI3h ago
OpenAI launches GPT-5.6 family with pricing from $1 input per million tokens

Key takeaway

OpenAI released its GPT-5.6 model family with three pricing tiers, with the flagship Sol variant claiming significant advantages over Anthropic's Fable 5 on coding benchmarks while costing roughly one-third less. The models are now available through ChatGPT, Codex, and the OpenAI API, alongside a new enterprise workplace tool called ChatGPT Work.

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3 Key Points

  • What happened

    OpenAI unveiled three variants of GPT-5.6 — Sol (workhorse), Terra (intermediate), and Luna (budget-friendly) — available now across ChatGPT, Codex, and the OpenAI API. Sol is priced at $5 input / $30 output per million tokens; Terra at $2.50 input / $15 output; Luna at $1 input / $6 output.

  • Why it matters

    The company claims Sol outperforms Anthropic's recently released Fable 5 by 2.8 points on the Artificial Analysis Coding Agent Index while using less than half the output tokens, taking less than half the time, and costing about one-third less. CEO Sam Altman says Sol is 54% more token efficient for AI coding tasks compared with previous versions.

  • What to watch

    OpenAI also released ChatGPT Work, a workplace tool for enterprise teams on desktop, web, and mobile designed to help with drafting documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. The company calls GPT-5.6 its strongest cybersecurity model yet, supporting defensive activities including threat modeling, code review, patching, and blue teaming.

Context & Analysis

OpenAI's release of GPT-5.6 comes as the company faces growing competition from Anthropic, which has positioned itself as an enterprise-focused alternative and won growing customer support. By launching three model variants at different price points and publishing coding benchmarks that directly compare Sol to Anthropic's Fable 5, OpenAI is making a direct competitive argument: its models deliver measurably better performance at lower cost. The Trump administration had previously sought to restrict the rollout of advanced models over cybersecurity concerns, but OpenAI emphasizes that GPT-5.6 is its strongest cybersecurity model yet and supports defensive security work, suggesting the company has addressed those concerns.

The addition of ChatGPT Work, designed as an enterprise workplace companion, reinforces OpenAI's pivot toward business customers. This follows recent model releases from competitors SpaceXAI and Meta, indicating that major announcements are clustering around this period. With Sol claiming 54% greater token efficiency in coding tasks and broader support for enterprise clerical work, OpenAI is betting that operational efficiency and tailored business tools will differentiate it in an increasingly crowded field.

FAQ

How much cheaper is OpenAI's Sol compared to Anthropic's Fable 5?
Using the Artificial Analysis Coding Agent Index, OpenAI claims Sol costs about one-third less than Fable 5 while using less than half the output tokens and taking less than half the time.
What are the exact prices for each GPT-5.6 model variant?
Sol is $5 input / $30 output per million tokens; Terra is $2.50 input / $15 output; Luna is $1 input / $6 output.
Where can I access GPT-5.6?
GPT-5.6 is available across ChatGPT, Codex, and the OpenAI API.

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