OpenAI makes GPT-5.6 (Sol, Terra, Luna) generally available

On July 9, 2026, OpenAI made GPT-5.6 publicly available across ChatGPT, Codex and the OpenAI API, ending a 12-day preview that had been limited to a small group of government-vetted organizations over concerns about the model's cybersecurity capabilities. The rollout is staged by account tier and expands globally over roughly 24 hours.

Key points

• Three tiers: Sol (flagship), Terra (balanced, lower cost, competitive with GPT-5.5) and Luna (fastest and most affordable).
• Pricing per 1M tokens: Sol $5 in / $30 out; Terra $2.50 / $15; Luna $1 / $6.
• OpenAI also introduced GPT-Live, a new voice model line that can listen and speak at the same time.
• Sol is being offered on Cerebras hardware at up to 750 tokens/second in July.
• The launch lands in a week when rivals Anthropic and xAI also restored or shipped frontier models.

FAQ

How is this different from the earlier preview? The preview (from June 26) was open to roughly 20 government-approved organizations; the July 9 GA opens access to all ChatGPT, API and Codex users. Which tier should I pick? Sol for the hardest tasks, Terra for cost-balanced everyday work, Luna when speed and price matter most.

See OpenAI's official announcement for full details.