OpenAI's newest AI model is 54% more token efficient on agentic coding, Altman tells CNBC

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman told CNBC on Thursday that GPT-5.6 Sol, the company's latest artificial intelligence model, is 54% more token efficient on agentic coding tasks, and that it's "as good or better" than competing models on the market.

"Every enterprise now is thinking about spend and the value they're getting in exchange for AI, and this is what we really want to do," Altman said.

OpenAI on Thursday is rolling out its latest series of models, GPT-5.6 Sol, Terra and Luna, which it announced last month. The company limited the initial launch to a "small group of trusted partners" at the request of the U.S. government.

Altman said the company worked with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. National Cyber Director Sean Cairncross on the approval process. He described OpenAI's work with the government as a "collaborative back and forth," where the government would carry out tests and raise problems for the company to address.

"If you want broad access, which we do, and you have powerful models, you really want to be able to be confident in your safety claims, because otherwise the world is going to get uncomfortable very fast," Altman said.

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