CODE IN TOKYO

Fable 5's Promotional Access Was Extended. Is Anthropic Watching OpenAI?

The promotional period that lets paid subscribers use Fable 5 within their subscription limits has been extended until July 12.

It was originally supposed to run until July 7, so this is a five-day extension.

As someone who has been using Fable 5 heavily, I am simply grateful. As I wrote the other day, Fable 5 really is smart. Because it is attentive, it also burns through tokens quickly, but if it is included in my subscription, I can use it without hesitation.

Still, one thing bothers me.

Why July 12?

Of course, Anthropic has not given a clear explanation.

But it is natural to wonder whether the company is being cautious about OpenAI’s next model.

Looking at places like Reddit, it seems I am not the only one thinking along these lines.

Rumors that OpenAI’s next-generation model is close have been around for some time.

Suppose Anthropic had ended Fable 5’s promotional access on July 7 as originally planned.

What would happen if OpenAI released a new high-performance model right after that?

I would try it.

Many AI users probably would too.

Users have no loyalty to a company.

If Claude Code is better, they use Claude. If Codex is better, they use Codex. If Gemini suddenly becomes extremely smart, they use Gemini.

At least, that is how I behave.

So from Anthropic’s point of view, it would not want to give users an extra reason to try another company’s model.

Of course, this is only speculation.

The date July 12 may have no deeper meaning at all. It may simply be a campaign extension.

But when I look at the current AI industry, the timing inevitably feels like it may have been chosen with competitors in mind.

Will Fable 5 Eventually Become a Normal Subscription Model?

There is one more thing I am hoping for.

At some point, models in the Fable 5 class may become available within ordinary subscriptions.

The current Fable 5 is very capable, but depending on how you use it, it consumes the allocated tokens at an incredible speed.

I was surprised after using it for a full day.

It is smart.

It is considerate.

And it eats a lot.

For now, handing all of my daily development work to Fable 5 still feels a little luxurious.

But in AI, last year’s luxury often becomes this year’s standard.

Performance that would have shocked us a year ago is now available within normal monthly plans.

Seen that way, I do not think it is that far away for Fable 5-level models to become part of everyday usage.

In the End, Competition Is What Helps Users Most

OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google.

At the moment, it does not feel as if any one company has completely won.

That is extremely good for users.

If Claude were the only option, we would have no choice but to pay even if Anthropic raised prices.

The same would be true if OpenAI were the only option.

But that is not the situation today.

If Claude Code feels expensive, I can try Codex. If Codex feels weak, I can go back to Claude. If Google releases something interesting, I can at least give it a try.

That is basically how I use these tools myself.

For the companies, this must be exhausting.

Even after spending enormous amounts of money to build a new model, a competitor may catch up within a few months.

If they relax even slightly, users move to another AI.

But from the user’s side, this is a very fortunate situation.

Compete with each other, make the models smarter, and make them cheaper.

I do not know why Fable 5’s promotional access was extended by five days.

The idea that it is a response to OpenAI is still only speculation.

Even so, competition between these companies is what creates pressure to extend promotional periods and make high-performance models available within subscriptions.

Capitalism has plenty of problems, but when competition is actually working, users become strong.

I will keep using Fable 5 heavily until July 12.

And after that, if an even better AI appears?

Of course, I will use that one.

Contact

I provide system development and technical consulting using AI, AWS, and Claude Code.

Contact form: https://holly-money-e94.notion.site/390ff30cf18c8086a676fe630d171873