Anthropic and OpenAI launch lower-cost AI models

Anthropic and OpenAI have launched new, lower-cost artificial intelligence models just hours apart, days after officials from both companies called for caution in developing the technology.

Anthropic stated that its new model, “Opus 5.5,” approaches the performance of its flagship model at a significantly lower cost, noting that it matches the advanced “Fable” model in most tasks at a 20% price reduction.

Subsequently, OpenAI announced the release of the “GPT-6 Sol” and “GPT-6 Luna” models, asserting that they perform tasks far better than Anthropic’s most powerful models.

The new models are faster and less expensive versions of “GPT-6 Astra,” OpenAI’s strongest model, which was released earlier this month.

This competition reflects the contradiction facing both companies: while they warn of the risks of the technology they are developing, they are simultaneously under pressure to generate returns on massive investments amid intense competition, particularly from low-cost Chinese models.

Anthropic’s launch of its new model comes weeks before its expected stock market listing, while OpenAI has postponed its initial public offering plans to next year.

Anthropic confirmed that the new model employs the same safety measures used in “Fable” in the areas of cybersecurity, biology, and AI model design.

It added that internal tests showed “Opus 5.5” to be the best model the company has tested to date in terms of “alignment,” meaning the extent to which it adheres to the objectives set by its developers.

However, the company also noted that the model exhibited a recurring tendency to believe it was being evaluated, a behavior it acknowledged could make predicting its actions under normal usage conditions difficult.