OpenAI and Anthropic Temporarily Lift Usage Limits for Their Newest AI Models
This week is a great time for AI enthusiasts to try the latest flagship models from OpenAI and Anthropic. Both companies have temporarily relaxed usage limits for their newest AI systems, giving subscribers more opportunities to test advanced features without immediately hitting rate caps.
The move comes amid growing competition between the two AI leaders as each works to attract and retain subscribers.
OpenAI Expands Access to GPT-5.6 Sol
OpenAI has announced that it is temporarily removing the standard five-hour usage window for GPT-5.6 Sol, its newest and most capable ChatGPT model.
The expanded access applies to:
- ChatGPT Plus
- ChatGPT Business
- ChatGPT Pro
In addition to lifting usage restrictions, OpenAI says it has optimized GPT-5.6 Sol to improve reasoning efficiency and reduce token consumption during complex and multi-agent tasks.
For now, the company has not announced plans to charge separate usage credits for GPT-5.6 Sol beyond the normal subscription limits.
Anthropic Extends Fable 5 Trial
Anthropic is also expanding access to its latest flagship model, Fable 5.
The company has:
- Extended in-plan access to Fable 5 for another week
- Doubled Claude Cowork usage limits until August 5
- Increased weekly Claude Code limits by 50% through July 19
These temporary changes allow Claude subscribers to spend more time testing Anthropic’s newest AI capabilities before standard limits return.
Competition Appears to Be Driving the Changes
While both companies describe the expanded access as temporary, the timing suggests increasing competition between OpenAI and Anthropic.
OpenAI’s decision to broaden GPT-5.6 Sol availability comes shortly after Anthropic introduced tighter long-term usage plans for Fable 5. Anthropic, in turn, has responded by extending trial access and increasing usage allowances across several services.
The result is a short-term benefit for subscribers of both platforms.
Temporary Offers for Subscribers
Neither company has indicated that these relaxed limits will become permanent.
Anthropic has previously stated that Fable 5 will eventually move out of standard subscription plans due to infrastructure capacity constraints. However, the company says it intends to restore the model to regular subscription access once sufficient computing capacity becomes available.
Meanwhile, OpenAI has only described the expanded GPT-5.6 Sol access as temporary, without announcing when the standard usage window will return.
For now, subscribers to ChatGPT and Claude have a limited opportunity to explore both companies’ most advanced AI models with fewer restrictions than usual.