01In plain English
A frontier model is one of the most advanced AI models of its moment, the ones pushing what AI can do. They are built by a small number of labs with very large amounts of computing power.
02Why it matters when you are choosing
Many tools advertise that they use frontier models. It usually means stronger results and higher running costs, and it is the class of model most AI safety rules are aimed at.
03What to check
Ask the vendor
Check which model a tool actually uses on your plan, since the best model is often kept for the most expensive tier.