Anthropic and OpenAI roll out cheaper models in first release since call for slowdown
GPT-6 Sol, GPT-6 Luna, Claude Opus 5.5 — both labs ship cheaper models 48 hours apart, signaling a pivot from scale to efficiency.
Why it matters
Two frontier labs released new model variants simultaneously, marking a shift toward cost-optimized inference and smaller model capability tiers. Practitioners deploying at scale will immediately recalculate their cost-per-token economics; enthusiasts tracking the lab race see a coordinated move away from pure capability maximalism toward market differentiation on efficiency.
The key facts
6 to knowOpenAI released GPT-6 Sol and GPT-6 Luna
Anthropic released Claude Opus 5.5
Both releases occurred within 48 hours of each other
Focus on cheaper/cost-optimized models
Timing follows calls for AI development slowdown
Published September 22, 2026
Go to the source
CNBC Technologycnbc.com
Publisher excerpt: OpenAI introduced GPT-6 Sol and GPT-6 Luna. Anthropic unveiled Claude Opus 5.5.