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AI model release timeline, 2026
All 94 models ArtificialWatch has logged as live on a public API in 2026, one lane per lab, each dot on the day the model went live (not the day it was announced). 17 were frontier releases. Coverage is fullest from July; earlier months show fewer models.
By day of the week
Releases since July 1, by the day each went live.
Quick answers
How often do AI labs release new models?
About 4.5 a week: ArtificialWatch logged 77 releases in the 17 weeks since July 1, 2026. The busiest week began September 21, with 8.
How long is the wait between frontier AI model releases?
Since July 1, a median of 8 days. The longest wait was 31 days, from Qwen 3.8 Max on August 1 to Fable 5.1 on September 1. Two frontier models went live on the same day once.
What day of the week do AI labs release new models?
Midweek. Since July 1, 53 of 77 releases (69%) went live Tuesday to Thursday, Wednesday most of all (19). Only 4 went live on a weekend.
Which AI labs ship new models most often?
In 2026 so far, Google, with 11 releases, then Anthropic with 10 and Meta with 8. Labs with fewer than 3 releases share the last lane.
The same releases as lists: by month and lab, newest first, or one lab's history from its lane. The data, free to reuse: CSV · JSON.
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