# Microsoft releases Decision-1 AI model starting at $0.042 per million input tokens

Digest AI · Generative AI & Models · published 2026-10-13T11:55:00Z

Canonical: https://digestai.news/story/microsoft-releases-decision-1-ai-model-starting-at-0-042-per-million-i

## Summary

Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella announced the release of a new AI model called Microsoft-Decision-1 on Oct. 9. The model focuses on making rapid, narrow choices such as categorizing requests, sorting data, or determining an AI agent's next step. Microsoft states the model is available through Microsoft Foundry and OpenRouter.

Microsoft claims Decision-1 runs about 35 times faster than OpenAI's GPT-6 Sol on decision tasks. It costs $0.042 per million input tokens, with free output. In a test by Microsoft's Xbox research team sorting over 10,000 pieces of player feedback, the company reports Decision-1 matched GPT-6 Sol in quality while running more than 14 times faster at roughly 1/200th of the cost.

Microsoft built Decision-1 on an open-source model from Alibaba's Qwen family. The company plans to rebuild the system later using its own models and OpenAI's technology.

## Key points

- Microsoft released Microsoft-Decision-1, a model designed for quick choices like sorting requests and routing AI agents.
- Decision-1 costs $0.042 per million input tokens with free output, available via Microsoft Foundry and OpenRouter.
- Microsoft claims Decision-1 runs 35 times faster than OpenAI's GPT-6 Sol on decision-making tasks.

## Why it matters

Low-cost, high-speed decision models reduce the expense of running multi-step AI agents, which frequently call models for simple routing choices.

## Sources

1. [Microsoft’s New AI Model Is 35 Times Faster Than OpenAI’s GPT-6 Sol. Wait Until You See the Price Tag.](https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/ai/articles/microsoft-ai-model-35-times-185459755.html) (finance.yahoo.com, 2026-10-13)

Part of the developing story: [The Rise of Self Managing AI Models](https://digestai.news/thread/researchers-introduce-context-language-models-that-manage-their-own-context) (3 stories)

## Cite

Digest AI, "Microsoft releases Decision-1 AI model starting at $0.042 per million input tokens", 13 October 2026, https://digestai.news/story/microsoft-releases-decision-1-ai-model-starting-at-0-042-per-million-i

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