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Claude Opus 5.5

1806 points · 1134 comments · km144

  1. sailingparrot · · focus · HN ↗
    > Claude Opus 5.5 is our first release since we called for pacing the frontier.

    Interesting how the very first line is used to remind the reader of their call to pace the frontier just last week, and everything else after that line is to demonstrate with very specific numbers how they absolutely are not pacing.

    1. mukmuk · · focus · HN ↗
      “Pacing the frontier” sounds smarmy and weird, like the phrase was generated by Claude itself
      1. DiggyJohnson · · focus · HN ↗
        I really don't think it's productive for internet forums to constantly be criticizing language choice when the meaning is clear. Better to respond to the substance of the issue than word choice.

        Edit: In response to the initial replies. To me it clearly means "releasing frontier models at any pace less than as fast as possible". It implies relative restraint compared to the previous state and without stating the degree of restraint.

        1. post-it · · focus · HN ↗
          Is the meaning clear? Nobody would use "pacing" in this way. I only know what it means because I've seen previous press releases; if someone told me they wanted to pace the frontier I would have no idea what they mean.

          I'm on the fence about calling out AI-isms but I think it's definitely worthwhile to call out ones that actually don't make sense.

          1. johnisgood · · focus · HN ↗
            Granted I am not a native English speaker but I have no idea what "pace the frontier" means. When I read it I just assumed "frontier" refers to "top of models" and "pacing" is that they are getting there quick.

            Is this the meaning or do I have it wrong? I have not checked.

            1. hardbass · · focus · HN ↗
              I am also not a native speaker. I thought it was clear it meant slowing down the rate of progress so we have time to consider the matter and develop tools or systems around it before.
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