ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

DeepSeek V4-Flash Becomes Cheapest Major AI Model to Run

ai-technology · 2026-08-03

On Friday, DeepSeek unveiled its V4-Flash model, which a study by Artificial Analysis has identified as the most affordable prominent AI model available worldwide. The cost per benchmark test for this model is approximately 3 cents, in stark contrast to Moonshot AI's Kimi K3 at 86 cents, OpenAI's GPT-5.6 Sol at $1.86, and Anthropic's Claude Fable 5, which stands at $3.15, as reported by Reuters. This announcement establishes DeepSeek as a leader in cost-effectiveness within the AI sector, likely influencing the pricing strategies of its rivals. The launch highlights the swift advancements in AI model technology and the growing significance of cost efficiency for AI implementation.

Key facts

  • DeepSeek released V4-Flash on Friday.
  • Artificial Analysis found V4-Flash is the least expensive well-known AI model to run globally.
  • V4-Flash costs roughly 3 cents per benchmark test.
  • Moonshot AI's Kimi K3 costs 86 cents per benchmark test.
  • OpenAI's GPT-5.6 Sol costs $1.86 per benchmark test.
  • Anthropic's Claude Fable 5 costs $3.15 per benchmark test.
  • The information was reported by Reuters.
  • DeepSeek's pricing undercuts major competitors significantly.

Entities

Institutions

  • DeepSeek
  • Artificial Analysis
  • Moonshot AI
  • OpenAI
  • Anthropic
  • Reuters

Sources