Chinese users praise OpenAI’s GPT-5.6 for efficiency, even at higher cost than local rivals

OpenAI’s latest GPT-5.6 release marks a growing emphasis on cost-efficiency, a move welcomed by some users in China who continue to access the blocked service via virtual private networks (VPNs) and third-party proxies, even as the artificial intelligence model remains more expensive than local rivals. The launch on Thursday introduced a trio of models tailored to different capabilities, speeds and price points: the flagship Sol, the balanced Terra and the lightweight Luna. According to OpenAI,.