AI programming platform Replit announces adoption of OpenAI's low-cost model to lower the barrier to programming

Odaily Planet Daily News: AI programming platform Replit has launched a new feature called Free Mode, powered by OpenAI's latest low-cost model GPT-5.6 Luna, aimed at reducing the cost for users to access AI programming tools and enhancing the value for paid subscribers.

Replit stated that Free Mode is currently available to Core and Pro subscribers, corresponding to the $20/month and $100/month plans, respectively. This mode will serve as the default experience, allowing users to prioritize the low-cost model for chat, brainstorming, and simple programming tasks. When a task requires stronger reasoning capabilities, Replit Agent will automatically switch to a higher-performance model.

Michele Catasta, Head of AI at Replit, said that the launch of Free Mode is made possible by OpenAI significantly cutting the cost of the GPT-5.6 Luna model. At the end of July, OpenAI reduced the API price of this model by approximately 80%, achieving cost reduction through improved model efficiency rather than relying on additional computing resources. (Fortune)