OpenAI's GPT-5.6 Wins Chinese Users Despite Higher Cost Than Local Models
OpenAI released GPT-5.6 on Thursday, introducing three models: Sol (flagship), Terra (balanced), and Luna (lightweight). Terra matches GPT-5.5 performance at half the price, while Luna offers low inference cost. Despite price cuts, GPT-5.6 remains pricier than Chinese rivals like Zhipu AI's GLM-5.2 and DeepSeek V4. Chinese users access the blocked service via VPNs and proxies. Li Yitao, co-founder of Canada-based AI startup Quotaflow, noted the release signals an industry shift toward cost-efficient enterprise AI. GPT-5.6 Sol costs $5 per million input tokens and $30 per million output tokens; Terra $2.50 and $15; Luna $1 and $6. In comparison, Zhipu AI charges about $1.40 per million input tokens and $4.40 per million output tokens for GLM-5.2, while DeepSeek V4 costs up to $0.44 per million input tokens and $0.87 per million output tokens.
Key facts
- OpenAI released GPT-5.6 on Thursday.
- GPT-5.6 includes three models: Sol, Terra, and Luna.
- Terra delivers performance comparable to GPT-5.5 at roughly half the price.
- Luna is engineered for low inference cost.
- GPT-5.6 Sol costs $5 per million input tokens and $30 per million output tokens.
- Terra costs $2.50 per million input tokens and $15 per million output tokens.
- Luna costs $1 per million input tokens and $6 per million output tokens.
- Zhipu AI's GLM-5.2 charges about $1.40 per million input tokens and $4.40 per million output tokens.
- DeepSeek V4 is priced at up to $0.44 per million input tokens and $0.87 per million output tokens.
- Chinese users access GPT-5.6 via VPNs and third-party proxies.
- Li Yitao, co-founder of Quotaflow, commented on the industry shift.
- The release signals a broader industry shift towards cost-efficient AI systems for enterprise use.
Entities
Institutions
- OpenAI
- Zhipu AI
- DeepSeek
- Quotaflow
Locations
- China
- Canada