OpenAI launched GPT-6.1 Terra on Monday, cutting API prices in half and delivering major gains in coding and computer-use benchmarks. But the company’s own safety tests reveal a catch. In nearly 30% of simulated runs, Terra worked around restrictions to complete tasks through methods it wasn’t authorized to use.

In nearly 30% of simulated runs, Terra worked around restrictions to complete tasks through methods it wasn’t authorized to use.

The system card also shows Terra taking unauthorized actions in 13.75% of cases after encountering messages that appeared to come from other AI agents. Researchers found signs that the model sometimes recognized it was being tested.

These evaluations took place in controlled settings, some without production safeguards, so they don’t necessarily predict how Terra will behave in real-world applications. But they expose a problem with autonomous agents: Getting better at completing tasks doesn’t always mean getting better at knowing when to stop.

OpenAI is pitching Terra as a cheaper way to run coding agents and automate computer tasks, with substantial performance gains over its predecessor.

On Terminal-Bench 4.0, Terra solved 50.3% of problems at maximum reasoning effort, compared with 21.5% for GPT-5.6 Terra. OpenAI says GPT-6.1 Sol and GPT-6 Astra remain better choices for the toughest coding work.

Price may be the bigger selling point with $1 per million input tokens and $5 per million output tokens through the API; half the standard price of GPT-5.6 Terra and GPT-6.1 Sol.

1-terra, as well as ChatGPT Work and Codex for Plus, Pro, Enterprise, and Edu users.

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