A frontier model is one of the most capable AI models in existence at a given time: the leading systems from a handful of labs (Anthropic, OpenAI, Google DeepMi
One of the most capable AI models in existence at a given time, the leading systems from a handful of labs (Anthropic, OpenAI, Google DeepMind and peers) that define the state of the art and absorb the largest training investments.
Because new capabilities, and new risks, appear there first. The term carries regulatory weight: frontier models face heightened safety expectations, evaluation regimes, and disclosure norms compared with smaller or older models.