OpenAI has introduced its latest model family, adding significant new options to an already competitive AI landscape. The GPT-5.6 lineup includes three distinct variants: Sol, positioned as the workhorse; Terra, a mid-range choice; and Luna, the budget-friendly option. These models aim to broaden user capabilities across numerous domains, with the company promising enhanced performance in enterprise applications, software development, and even scientific research. CEO Sam Altman has stated that these new models are dramatically more efficient and cost-effective than their predecessors, recently telling CNBC that Sol achieves 54% greater token efficiency for AI-driven coding tasks. Notably, OpenAI describes 5.6 as its "strongest cybersecurity model yet, achieving frontier performance with significantly fewer tokens."

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A great deal of attention has focused on the model's cybersecurity features, as the Trump administration had previously sought to restrict its release due to concerns about potential misuse. GPT-5.6 supports defensive operations such as threat modeling, code review and patching, and blue teaming—simulating attacks on one's own systems to uncover vulnerabilities before real hackers can exploit them. Additionally, OpenAI has launched ChatGPT Work, a workplace tool designed for enterprise teams that operates on desktop, web, and mobile platforms. It assists with routine clerical tasks like drafting documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. This new model family arrives shortly after similar announcements this week from competitors SpaceXAI and Meta. However, GPT-5.6 and its accompanying marketing appear primarily aimed at challenging OpenAI's main rival, Anthropic.

Anthropic has positioned itself as the likable underdog in the AI race, focusing intently on enterprise clients and steadily gaining market share. Not to be outdone, OpenAI cites the Artificial Analysis Coding Agent Index, a respected benchmarking metric, to argue that its latest models outperform Anthropic's offerings across the board. OpenAI calls Sol its "best coding model yet" and has directly compared it to Anthropic's recently released and highly anticipated Fable. Using the Coding Agent Index, OpenAI claims that Sol "sets a new state of the art at 80, 2.8 points above Fable 5, while using less than half the output tokens, taking less than half the time, and costing about one-third less." The company adds: "That advantage extends across the family: Terra performs just above Fable 5, while Luna outperforms Opus 4.8."

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OpenAI states that GPT-5.6 is now available across ChatGPT, Codex, and the OpenAI API. Pricing per million tokens is as follows: Sol costs $5 for input and $30 for output, Terra costs $2.50 for input and $15 for output, and Luna costs $1 for input and $6 for output.