Frontier model
One of the most capable models available at a given moment, typically from a major lab. The term also shows up in regulation, which often applies extra rules to frontier models.
“For the legal review we pay for a frontier model; for tagging, a small one is fine.”
See also
In the history of AI
Part of the Extended list
Frontier model is on the Extended list: builder jargon, industry terms, and newer slang for when you want to go further. It entered common use around 2024.