Frontier model
One of the most capable AI models of its moment, from the labs pushing hardest, and the kind most safety laws are written for.
"Frontier" is a moving line. It means the most capable models anyone has built so far, and last year's frontier model is this year's ordinary one. A handful of labs train them, at enormous cost.
The term matters because rules are aimed at it. California's frontier AI law, signed in September 2025, defines a frontier model by the computing power used to train it, more than 10^26 operations, and requires the largest developers to publish how they manage serious risks. Labs also publish long safety reports, called system cards, when they release one.
For example
When a lab launches a new top model with a long safety report attached, that's a frontier model. Its cheaper, faster sibling in the same app usually isn't.
Put it to use
Where you'll meet frontier model in ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude, how to use it there, and the mix-up most people make.
Daily Bytes Plus is in the Android app.