The AI Price and Intelligence Index Snapshot gives us some numbers, but true leadership shifts aren't just about what's adequately priced; they're about reaching the upper bound of what a model can deliver.
Moving from Claude Sonnet 3.5 to 4.5 isn't because of a marginal price tweak, but because the newer version unlocks a peak performance that revolutionizes our workflow.
If a model can process complex codebases with unprecedented efficiency, say, reducing our error rate by 40% and freeing up developer hours, that's a full expression of value.
We push for that absolute best, not merely what looks good on a benchmark report. Our goal is always the highest possible payoff.