Anthropic released the Claude Opus 5.5 model on September 22, 2026. It is the first entry in the new 5.5 series, designed for complex agentic workflows such as multi-step coding tasks. The model is accessible via the Claude API, Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, and Microsoft.
The company set pricing at $4 per million input tokens and $20 per million output tokens, representing a 20% reduction compared to Opus 5. When combined with cache discounts, typical workloads are approximately 40% cheaper. Following the release, token volume increased by 3.6 times.
External safety evaluations from organizations including Frontier Design and METR indicate that Opus 5.5 is 85% less likely to bypass safety protocols than previous versions. Anthropic maintains a design separation between agent control systems and code execution systems to enhance security.
The launch coincides with Anthropic filing its S-1 documentation for a public offering. For the first half of 2026, the company reported $16.3 billion in revenue, marking a 1,300% year-over-year increase. In the second quarter of 2026, it achieved an operating profit of $974 million with a 19% adjusted operating margin.
Anthropic plans to expand the 5.5 family with the upcoming release of Sonnet 5.5 and Haiku 5.5 models. Investors are monitoring whether the recent surge in usage will translate into further growth in revenue and margins in future financial reports.
