Agentic data science with the Data Agent Kit
cloud.google.com·7h ago
Data Science
Simon Willison's Blog·15d ago·5 min read
2026 in LLMs (so far)
TL;DR
In 2026, significant advancements in large language models (LLMs) were marked by the release of Claude Opus 4.5 and GPT-5.1, which notably improved coding agents. These models transitioned from limited functionality to effectively executing coding tasks.
✦ Why It Matters
Explore and integrate the latest coding capabilities of Claude Opus 4.5 and GPT-5.1 into your development projects today.
Key Takeaways
- Experiment with Claude Opus 4.5 for enhanced coding support.
- Evaluate GPT-5.1 for its new capabilities in software development.
- Incorporate AI coding agents into your workflow for efficiency.
- Stay updated on LLM advancements to leverage new features.
Full Summary
The year 2026 saw the introduction of Claude Opus 4.5 and GPT-5.1, two new large language models that built upon their predecessors with incremental improvements. Notably, these updates enhanced the performance of coding agents, which are AI systems designed to assist with programming tasks.
Claude Code, introduced in February 2025, and Codex, a newer model, began to show significant capabilities in coding after the release of these models. The improvements allowed these agents to perform tasks that previously were not feasible, marking a turning point in their usability.
This evolution suggests a growing trend in AI where models not only refine existing functionalities but also unlock new potential applications in software development. The implications for developers are profound, as these tools can now assist more effectively in coding, potentially transforming workflows.